9 hours ago
Prosecutors seek 15 years for ex-West High teacher on attempted sex trafficking charge
Federal prosecutors are pushing to have a former Manchester High School West teacher convicted of attempted sex trafficking of a minor receive an enhanced sentence of 15 years in prison for his crimes.
Stacey Lancaster, 46, of Hudson, was arrested during a Homeland Security sting in November and charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and 15 years if the 'purported minor victim' was under the age of 14 years old.
After finding Lancaster guilty, the jury checked 'yes' on a verdict form that the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Lancaster 'knew or recklessly disregarded the fact the offense involved a person who had not attained the age of 14 at the time of the offense.'
Evidence during the trial showed Lancaster visited a website 'commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts,' where he offered to pay $100 to have sex with a 12-year-old-girl. He was arrested after he showed the money to an undercover agent, prosecutor Matthew Vicinanzo said.
The prosecution filed a memorandum for the enhanced sentence last week.
To establish an attempt violation, 'The government must prove that the defendant believed the victim was a minor,' the memo says.
The prosecution viewed messages and photos conveying the age of the girl as under 18, according to the request.
Sentencing was originally scheduled for Aug. 18, but Lancaster's lawyer, Charles Keefe, requested it be moved 30 days. The extra time is needed for a pre-sentence interview with federal probation officials.
The prosecution agreed to the change.
Keefe has yet to file an opposition to the prosecution's enhanced sentencing request.
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