BONNERS FERRY — A First District judge has denied a Washington man’s request for a bond reduction on multiple charges involving alleged explicit messages to youth, saying he posed a flight risk.  

Rowel Allen Rogers, 48, is facing two counts of enticing children through the internet, for which he entered a not guilty plea Sept. 17.  

Rogers is being held in Boundary County Jail on a $200,000 bond.  

During a bond reduction hearing Oct. 8, Rogers’ legal counsel argued the amount should be lowered because Rogers is the primary caretaker for his mother. District 1 Judge Susie Jensen denied the motion, saying that she considered him a flight risk, according to court documents.  

Rogers is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on Nov. 19, with a trial slated for Dec. 8. 

Officials became aware of Rogers via an undercover operation run by the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshalls, and confidential informants aimed at apprehending sexual predators in Boundary County.  

During the operation, Rogers allegedly sent sexual messages to someone he believed was 19, but the individual was actually an officer posing as a teen. 

After she told him she was actually 14 years old, Rogers allegedly continued to message in a sexual manner.  

According to a probable cause affidavit, Rogers made plans to meet up with the 14-year-old, asking if he could bring over two of his friends. Even though the investigation was performed in Bonners Ferry, Rogers and the decoy were supposed to meet in Ponderay. After texting the girl that he was 20 minutes, communication stopped. Rogers lives in Yakima, Washington, and is approximately 5 hours away from Ponderay. Rogers was arrested in Yakima County on July 21.   

Court documents allege Rogers sent seven sexually explicit pictures and six pornographic videos.