Mankato coach anxious to get life, job back

The Minnnesota State University Mankato football coach accused of making pornographic videos said he is relieved the charges were dismissed Friday.

Todd Hoffner, 46, was charged with two felony counts in August for videos he made of his three young children. Now Hoffner wants his coaching job back.

After the ruling, Hoffner described his ordeal over the past few months.

"The last 102 days have been long, painful and a nightmare that my wife and I have had to endure," Hoffner said. "Our lives have been turned upside down. We have suffered considerable mental, physical and emotional hardship."

The coach was accused of using his university-issued cellphone to make pornographic videos of his three children, then all under the age of 9.

In a hearing last month, Hoffner said the children asked him to record a skit they had rehearsed for him while taking a bath. He said he didn't think there was anything inappropriate about recording them.

Blue Earth County Judge Krista Jass agreed. In her ruling, she said the videos contain nude images of Hoffner's children dancing and acting playful after a bath. And that's all they contain, she said.

"The children do not engage in touching of an overtly sexual nature; they do not behave in a sexually coy or inviting manner; they do not perform any act which could reasonably be construed as an act of sexual stimulation or gratification; and they, at no time, receive instruction or direction from their father," Jass said.

Hoffner expressed relief that the judge agreed the videos had been misinterpreted. He said he will always regret having used his cellphone to videotape his children.

"I didn't think twice when I used that phone to capture 102 seconds of family moments," Hoffner said. "At the time, I just thought I was being a good dad. I was just doing what my kids asked me to do: videotape them at play."

Assistant Blue Earth County Attorney Mike Hanson could not be reached for a taped interview but has said throughout the case that he thought the videos of the Hoffner kids were inappropriate and that adults shouldn't take images of children in lewd positions.

Hanson told the Associated Press that although he does not agree with the judge's ruling, he accepts it. He said his office was simply enforcing the law.

Hoffner's attorney Jerry Maschka said Hanson allowed the videos to be taken out of context.

"It's been our contention here that this county attorney's office brought these charges with little investigation and even less analysis," Maschka said.

Neither Maschka nor his partner, Jim Fleming, would comment about whether Hoffner plans legal action. They said they are focusing on trying to get the university to reinstate Hoffner, who remains on administrative leave.

"We're asking the university to send a message that reason will prevail and should prevail over hysteria and that people shouldn't be punished because they've been wrongly accused of criminal behavior," Maschka said.

In a statement, MSU-Mankato officials said Hoffner's leave continues, pending the university's own investigation. A spokesman said there is no timetable for when that could be completed.

Hoffner said he wants to return to his job at the university. But he won't be on the field on Saturday afternoon, when the Mavericks host Missouri Western State University in the Division II football playoffs.

Hoffner said he looks forward to getting his family's life back in order.

"As our family continues through our journey of life, we will need a continuation of concerted effort to shelter my children from these false accusations," Hoffner said. "It will take a village to raise these children and to keep this nightmare from haunting them in the future."

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