Lawyers in the Markus Hicks sexual violence case say they’re making progress toward a resolution that could avoid a long and difficult trial.

Hicks appeared by video once again today from the Bishop’s Falls Correctional Centre.

The 33-year-old former teacher and volleyball coach has more than 200 charges hanging over his head, alleging he lured teens and young adults, regardless of gender, to his Paradise home for sex, all the while pretending to be someone else.

In fact, it’s alleged he passed himself off as many fictitious people on dozens of social media accounts including SnapChat, Facebook, MSN Messenger, BeReal, FetLife, Tinder, Grindr, and Skype.

But the sheer number and nature of the charges involving two dozen complainants, and the forensic police work around those online communications, has resulted in a slower, meticulous process.

Hicks has pleaded not guilty, with a 37-day trial still on the docket for this fall.

That said, the Crown noted today they are in the “end stages” of what’s believed to be a plea bargain with the defence that could see some charges dropped in exchange for guilty pleas to others.

“We want to get this moving,” prosecutor Mark James told Chief Provincial Court Judge Robin Fowler this morning, asking to bring the case back as early as Monday.

Responded the judge: “I’ll make it work.”