Molester's trial date set

A February trial date has been set for convicted Washington state child molester James Ernest Hope in the 2001 molestation of two Carson City girls.

Defense attorney John Oakes noted in Carson City District Court on Monday that he had a plea agreement "sitting on his desk," but no decision had been made.

Judge Todd Russell set aside Feb. 5-8 for the trial, and he also set a status check hearing for Nov. 13, at which time any plea negotiation that have been made may come to light.

Hope, 43, fled Nevada in 2004 while awaiting trial on five felony charges here.

According to investigators, the assaults occurred in 2001 when the girls were ages 4 and 6. He was bound over to District Court in July 2004.

After Douglas County issued a warrant for his arrest on allegations that he'd improperly touched a Minden 10-year-old, he disappeared.

He was captured a year ago in Washington under an assumed name and convicted of felony child molestation in the first degree and gross misdemeanor communicating with a minor for immoral purposes for a separate offense for which he received a life sentence.

Hope was returned to Douglas County in July where he is being held without bail.

He waived a preliminary hearing last month in East Fork Justice Court and was expected to plead to one count of lewdness with a child under 14.

Hope did not appear at the hearing on Monday.