SAGUACHE – Joseph Anthony Lukondi, 43, of Mosca, charged with alleged Internet sexual exploitation of minors in two San Luis Valley counties, appeared last Wednesday in a new venue and with a new lawyer.

Lukondi was in Saguache County Court with public defender Alex Raines at his side. He has been represented by public defender Dan Walzl in Alamosa County Court.

Raines advised Judge Martin Gonzales that all the information requested in a motion for discovery had not been received. Deputy District Attorney Geoff Rieman assured the judge the information would be forthcoming . Gonzales said he had approved the move to the Saguache court because he had been under the impression that the matter was to be resolved that day and he was not pleased to find that a resolution was not in sight. He asked Raines if the Jan. 6 plea offer was still under consideration by the defense, and Raines said it was.

The mother of some of the victims in the case objected to the proceedings being moved to Saguache. She said she did not live in the Valley, and the distance she had to travel to Saguache was greater than the distance to Alamosa.

Gonzales moved Lukondi's next court hearing location back to the Alamosa County Court.

Arrested in Saguache County on Sept. 16 on charges of alleged Internet sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of a child, and contributing to the delinquency of a child, Lukondi's bond was initially set at $50,000. Bond was reduced to $3,000 on Oct. 8, and Lukondi was released from the Saguache County jail on Oct. 8 after the bond was reduced to $3,000.

On Oct. 9 Alamosa police arrested Lukondi with three new counts of alleged Internet sexual exploitation of a child, class four felonies. The Alamosa case involved three young girls aged 13, 12 and 11.

Bond was set at $20,000 and Lukondi remains in the Alamosa County Detention Center.

Lukondi's lawyer has filed papers with the Alamosa County Clerk of Court stating that he would waive the preliminary hearing if the court would reduce the Saguache charges to one count of second degree assault, described in the papers as a class four felony (CRS 18-3-203 (1)( g); and the Alamosa county charges to one count of criminal attempt internet exploitation, described in the papers as a class five felony (CRS 18-3-405 .4(1).

In previous court filings, there was a request for the preliminary hearing to be waived in exchange for reduced charges.