Couple will face charges in court
By Lee Williams
Published in News on November 17, 2006 1:45 PM
ROXBORO -- The case of a Wayne County couple caught in an Internet sex sting conducted by the Person County Sheriff's Department will now be heard in Superior Court.
John Ashley Dunn, 42, of Country Acres Road, and his wife, Sandra Foster Dunn, 35, who each face charges after they were caught trying to meet up with a 14-year-old girl for alleged sexual activity, were scheduled to have a probable cause hearing Nov. 7.
The Dunns waived their right to the hearing, paving the way for their case to be transferred to Superior Court, court officials said.
The Dunns allegedly initiated contact with what they thought was a 14-year-old girl over the Internet and recruited the teen for sex. They continued to chat online and later spoke over the phone. The "teen" was actually a Person County deputy.
Person County Sheriff Dennis Oakley said a male deputy chatted with the Dunns over the Internet, but Oakley said he recruited a female deputy to speak with the Dunns over the phone.
The three agreed to meet in the Hardees parking lot in Roxboro. They were late, Oakley said. After the couple arrived about 9 p.m. Oct. 17, they were taken into custody.
Dunn, who was wanted for bad checks, was also charged with felony conspiracy, soliciting a child by computer and driving on a revoked license. Mrs. Dunn was charged with felony conspiracy and soliciting a child by computer.
Mrs. Dunn worked in a lingerie shop, and her husband was a paramedic for AmbuMed, Oakley said.
Mrs. Dunn was being held on a $200,000 bond and Dunn was being held on a $250,000 bond. However, their bonds were lowered after the court hearing.
Mrs. Dunn's bond was reduced to $10,000. She was released Nov. 15 from the Person County Jail. Dunn's bond was reduced to $15,000. He remains in custody, jail officials said Friday.
A court date in Superior Court for the Dunns is still pending, court officials said.