Convicted molester back in Nevada

A convicted child molester facing similar charges in Douglas County and Carson City is to appear Monday in East Fork Justice Court on allegations he fondled a 10-year-old girl while her mother napped in a bedroom.

James Ernest Hope, 43, was returned to Douglas County Jail on Thursday from Clallam Bay Corrections Center in Washington where he is serving up to life in prison for felony child molestation in the first degree and gross misdemeanor communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

He pleaded guilty to the Washington charges Nov. 3, 2006.

Hope is charged in Douglas County with lewdness with a child under 14 stemming from an incident which occurred Sept. 19, 2004, while he was awaiting trial in Carson City on allegations he had molested two sisters who were 4 and 6.

According to court documents, the Minden girl told deputies that Hope made sexually suggestive comments and touched her inappropriately while her mother slept in another room.

The terrified little girl ran to her mother who ordered Hope out of the house and contacted deputies. According to court documents, she had known Hope for two weeks.

Hope, a Carson City painting contractor and former police cadet, disappeared after Douglas County issued a warrant with $100,000 bail in September 2004.

He was arrested in Washington in September 2006 after fleeing from police there who wished to question him after a girl told her mother he molested her.

Undersheriff Paul Howell said Friday that Hope was returned to Douglas County without incident.

"He was arrested in Washington under a different name and convicted," Howell said. "During the judicial process, they matched his fingerprints and determined he was facing charges in Douglas County and Carson City."

He is being held without bail.

After the Douglas County charge is adjudicated, Hope is to be transferred to Carson City where he is facing four counts of lewdness with a minor under 14 and one count of sexual assault of a child under 14.