MANKATO, Minn. (WCCO) – A Minnesota football coach, arrested after nude videos of his own children were found on his cell phone, is again asking for the charges to be dropped.
Todd Hoffner was the head coach at the University of Minnesota State, Mankato.
He was arrested this summer after an IT person reported what he believed to be child pornography found on Hoffner’s school-issued cell phone.
But Hoffner and his wife maintain that they were “normal family videos.”
A social worker with Blue Earth County Human Services investigated to determine if Hoffner’s children were sexually abused, and found no maltreatment of the children, and now Hoffner’s attorney want charges against HIM to be dismissed.
The letter, dated Sept. 26, detailed the steps taken by a social worker who determined the Hoffner children were not mistreated or abused.
The social worker conducted interviews with the children, ages 5, 7 and 9 and said she did not believe they were sexually abused.
The criminal complaint filed against 46-year-old Hoffner gave details about images found on his university-supplied cell phone.
It described children dropping their towels to expose their naked bodies, and other images showed children dancing around before two of them bent over and exposed their buttocks. Another video showed a child coming into a room wearing nothing more than a football helmet.
“Innocent video of typical kids being silly,” said Todd’s wife, Melody Hoffner.
Hoffner’s wife stood by her husband, telling reporters in August that he is innocent of all charges.
“The charges against my husband are ridiculous and baseless,” she said.
Now, Hoffner’s attorneys want charges against him dropped. They cite the letter from the social worker who said her investigation did not indicate sexual abuse was occurring.
“I hope that someone with authority will take a look at his and see it for what it is,” Melody Hoffner said.
The Blue Earth Assistant County Attorney has not commented about this case since charges were filed in August.
Oct. 31 is the quickest that a hearing on the dismissal of charges could be scheduled.
Until then, Hoffner will keep his skills sharp by continuing to volunteer coaching youth football.
