Clinton R. Caldwell, one of a dozen suspected predators arrested in a Net-Nanny child-sex sting operation in March, died Monday, Oct. 29, at his home, his lawyer, Ralph Anderson of Port Angeles, confirmed Tuesday.
The 67-year-old Sequim resident was transferred from an Avamere care facility Saturday to hospice care at his Sequim home following a telephonic hearing on Oct. 26 in Clallam County Superior Court.
Caldwell could be heard moaning during the proceedings.
Karenann Mygind, Clallam County health and human services department deputy registrar, said Tuesday the cause of death was colon cancer.
Anderson said last week that Caldwell also had liver cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes.
Criminal proceedings against Caldwell had been delayed last week on charges of first- and second-degree attempted child rape and a separate but related felony harassment charge.
Caldwell was among a dozen suspected child predators arrested March 23-26.
The multi-agency sting included authorities from the FBI, State Patrol and Clallam and Jefferson counties.
They targeted Caldwell after he allegedly lured abused and homeless women to his $200,000 Bogey Lane home with promises of housing and demanded sex in exchange for rent.
He was arrested on his way to a Port Hadlock house rented by the State Patrol “where he believed the sex acts would take place,” according to the probable cause statement, and where the other suspected pedophiles were arrested when they arrived expecting the same thing.
The harassment charge against Caldwell resulted from an allegation by a woman that Caldwell had threatened her, blaming her for his arrest in the Net Nanny operation.
Michele Devlin, Clallam County chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney, and Anderson said the charges against Caldwell likely will be dismissed.
“It has to be done on the record, in court,” Anderson said.
Paul Gottlieb is a Senior Staff Writer with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
