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All Hochmuth Posts
Ex-WELS Communications Director Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography - Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant, WI Patch:
Ex-WELS Communications Director Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography
Waukesha man will be sentenced June 4 on felony charge after authorities found images at his home and on thumb drives at his work office in Wauwatosa.
By Sarah Millard Email the author 12:16 pm
The former communications director for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Joel W. Hochmuth, who was fired from his position upon his arrest on child pornography charges, pleaded guilty Friday morning to one felony count of possessing child pornography.
As a result of the 52-year-old Waukesha man’s plea, two additional counts of possessing child pornography were dismissed. The Waukesha County district attorney’s office will recommend an unspecified amount of prison time when Hochmuth is sentenced at 2 p.m. June 4.
“We have gone over it ad nauseam,” said Paul Bucher, who is Hochmuth’s defense attorney.
“It is my decision,” Hochmuth told Judge Kathryn Foster shortly before pleading guilty to the charge. The case was set for a jury trial next week, which has been canceled as a result of the guilty plea.
Hochmuth was charged in November after detectives from the Waukesha Police Department met with a special agent from the FBI, who told detectives that Hochmuth was using the Internet handle “Skiguy10101” had child pornography on his computer depicting “pre-pubescent and adolescent boys engaged in various sexual acts,” according to a criminal complaint.
Hochmuth told authorities that the number of images found on his computer in Waukesha “was nothing compared to what they would find in his office,” the complaint states. Hochmuth denied downloading pornographic images on his work computer but police located three thumb drives at the WELS office in Wauwatosa, 2929 N Mayfair Rd., that had nine images and videos of young boys engaged in sexual acts, the complaint states. Authorities believe boys shown in the graphic pictures ranged from 10 to 14 years old.
Hochmuth was terminated from his position when the allegations came to light.
'via Blog this'
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The thumb drives at 2929 are the smoking gun, but no one is going to offer any answers.
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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Ex-WELS Communications Director Pleads Guilty to P...":
No wonder Church Growthers in the WELS remain unemployed only for a matter of minutes before they receive their next call. Church Growthism on their resumes makes them qualified even for running technology at WELS HQs #1 (HQs #2 being Pewaukee). I imagine they can claim technology prowess after setting up all the satellite dishes and TiVos to receive all the televangelists broadcasts. (Regular pastors have problems getting even the WELS Connection DVDs to work, as many congregations have witnessed.)
The move to Pewaukee is starting to make more sense now. It can receive better satellite reception since Milwaukee is at 678 feet elevation, and Pewaukee at 853 feet.
Here's what WELS HQ #2 (aka Pewaukee Towers) will look like once the CG tech execs are finished with their "upgrades":
http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/satellite-dishes-16.jpg
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LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "Ex-WELS Communications Director Pleads Guilty to P...":
I have taken jump (thumb) drives with me to work that have data on them that I may or may not work on (view) to revise. To view the data as far as I know is not 'downloading'. Downloading or uploading as I understand is moving data to or from a server. Putting the best construction on Mr. Hochmuth's case by the facts presented would lead me to believe he brought his jump drives to work to view the data on his WELS owned computer; but that any downloading or uploading probably took place at his residence on his private computer. Of course none of my editorial lessens the seriousness of his transgressions.
I do pray for his reconciliation with his Lord.
Still what is disturbing to me is the counselling entity that was involved prior as reported by the media and documented in court records is never mentioned. From what I know of Wisconsin law is that any counsellor is bound by law to report illegal activities to the authorities. There are others culpable in this. Since Mr. Hochmuth was a WELS employee and was no doubt insured by WELS VEBA, most likely he would have been referred to WLCFS...a WELS entity...so who's talking??? I hear crickets....
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GJ - There is no best construction for heinous acts like this, Joe. The newspaper reporter was skeptical about the denial, which indicates background information. A good reporter for court news would be familiar with staff and get additional background details. I noticed spin on the story from the start, but I am not going to take time to unravel that.
When people asked who did the counselling, they received no answer from WELS, so I think you are right about WLCFS. Whoever kept silent joined the criminal ranks on this one.
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http://www.wisn.com/news/30646312/detail.html
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