Minn. St.-Mankato football coach faces porn 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.

The complaint said the children are Hoffner‘s.

Hoffner’s attorney, Jim Fleming, said his client intends to fight the charges. At a bail hearing Wednesday, Fleming characterized the nature of the video as “private family moments.” He added that the images contained nothing that was graphic, abusive or exploitive.

The complaint said Hoffner brought his university-issued cellphone to school officials earlier this month because it wasn’t working. 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. He posted bail and was released from custody Wednesday.

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.

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