APOriginally arrested and taken into custody last month on child pornography charges, Minnesota State-Mankato coach Todd Hoffner did receive news that may help in his fight to prove his innocence.
The Associated Press reports that no evidence of child pornographywas found on computers taken from Hoffner’s home. Hoffner was placed on administrative leave last month and later arrested after a complaint was filed against him claiming a university-issued cellphone contained suspicious videos. The complaint was filed by a technician working on the phone because it was brought in for repair.
Hoffner and his wife have denied the charges and said the content is of their children.
“The charges against my husband are ridiculous and baseless,” Melodee Hoffner said in a statement. “My family does what every family does – we take videos and pictures of our kids in all their craziness. My husband would not ever abuse our children or any other children.
“I assure you our children have not been exploited or abused – they are healthy physically, mentally and emotionally; and have normal relationships with friends, family and teachers.”
Hoffner was formally charged with two felonies. He was entering his fifth season with the school.
This may be a situation where the district attorney saw and heard what he wanted the evidence to show in the wake of samdusky instead of what it actually was. I see a dismissal of the charges and a big chunk of $ going to hoffner in the near future
If they ruined this guys life for no reason, the prosecutor/technician/cops should all be subjected to the same treatment.
Shame on them if it proves this guy is innocent, and I am suspecting that is going to be the case.
Would’ve thought they (1) ID the kids on the cell phone video and (2) finish the investigation prior to filing charges. If he’s exonerated, he should sue.
Unfortunately, publicity hungry and malignant prosecutors have ruined many lives and never have to pay any price for doing it.
I agree as far as the prosecutor. But the technician did what he thought was right, turning the case over to his superior. Even if these pictures are of the coach’s children, the technician could not know that. The police also did what they were supposed to do (I hope). If they investigated and turned their findings over to the prosecutor, ultimately it was his decision to move forward. The prosecutor, and by association the city and county he represents, will be on the hook for the $. It is always the taxpayer that ends up paying in the end.
The man’s wife told us this a month ago fer cryin out loud. I would love to be this guy’s attorney right now, sue the absolute hell out of all of them!!!!
The cops and DA’s have gone wild with this crap. So be careful what you have on your phone and computer, now some innocent pics of your own kids will get you arrested and fired.
BTW, as pertains to caution …. 6 months ago the Ontario Police issued over 600 child pornography warrants for local residents… it has since come to light that the majority of these “sex offenders” were looking at pics of 21+ year old models, under the employ of the Ontario Police, but being advertised as teens. Oh yeah, the websites were owned by the cops too.
Hope he counter sues for defamation of character and gets a load of $$$.
State probably has sovereign immunity from lawsuits
The same people that scream for heads are the same people that now say sue. America can not have it both ways. Everyone wants to see everything in hindsight.
Coach should have followed University guidelines that state, when school equipment is distributed for use; the USE is for work related ONLY – not for taking videos of your kids, sending text messages to your brothers, snapping pics of coeds – work related – GET YOUR OWN CELL PHONE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE VIDS!
This country seems to be sliding towards guilty until proven innocent. It’s sad. I have friends that are cops that were complaining a while back about a ruling that said cops weren’t immune from stand your castle laws…the cops argued that people should just give up no matter what to cops and defend themselves in court because that’s what courts are for….never mind costs and image destruction. That’s also sad.
if he is found not guilty, then moonwalks out the courtroom in celebration, then he did it
Why have vids of naked 4,5 & a 9 year old period? makes him sound like a creep to me.
@ chief
You dont know what was found. Shaddup.