Minn. St.-Mankato football coach faces pornography case
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -- The head football coach at Minnesota State, Mankato, was charged Wednesday with two counts related to child pornography after authorities said they found nude images of children on his cellphone.
Todd Hoffner, 46, of Eagle Lake, was charged with one count of using minors in a sexual performance or pornographic work, and one count of possessing child pornography. Both are felonies.
Police began investigating last week after a university official went to them with three videos of children that were said to be on Hoffner's work-issued cellphone, according to the complaint filed in the case.
Hoffner's attorney, Jim Fleming, said his client intends to fight the charges and will be pleading not guilty at a later date. He had no further comment.
The complaint said Hoffner brought his university-issued cellphone to school officials earlier this month because it wasn't working properly. Hoffner was given a new one, and was told technicians would retrieve videos and pictures from his old phone for him.
A technician came across the videos while going through the data, and police were contacted.
Hoffner is on leave and a university investigation is pending.
Bail was set at $10,000 with conditions at a Wednesday afternoon hearing. Fleming said Hoffner was expected to post bail.
Hoffner is entering his fifth year as Minnesota State, Mankato's head football coach. He led the team to the playoffs in 2008 and 2009, and a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title in 2011.
He has a 34-13 record at Minnesota State, Mankato, and was named NSIC coach of the year in 2009.