By Mike Johnson
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
November 18, 2011
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/child-porn-charges-filed-against-church-official-v833nbc-134078618.html
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| Joel W. Hochmuth |
Waukesha - A Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod official arrested on allegations of possessing child pornography used the Internet to download hundreds of images of young males engaged in sexual acts with other youths and adult males, a criminal complaint filed Thursday says.
Joel W. Hochmuth, 52, the communication director for WELS, admitted to investigators that he has been "struggling with an addiction to viewing pornographic photos and videos of young boys in sexually explicit poses," the complaint states.
The man's wife at one point caught him looking at the images at their Waukesha home and they had gone to counseling as a result, according to the complaint.
Hochmuth was charged Thursday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with three counts of possession of child pornography and ordered held on $20,000 bail.
If convicted, Hochmuth faces up to 15 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision on each count.
Hochmuth was arrested Tuesday after investigators searched his home and his WELS office in Wauwatosa.
Investigators found several hundred images on his home computer and 310 photographs and 38 videos on a purple thumb drive recovered from his WELS office. Hochmuth reportedly told investigators that "what would be found on his home computer was nothing compared to what they would find in his office," the complaint says.
But Hochmuth denied downloading any explicit material while at work, according to the complaint.
He also denied ever creating his own pornography, the complaint says.
WELS officials learned on Wednesday night of Hochmuth's arrest.
"We're shocked and devastated," said the Rev. Mark Schroeder, WELS president and chairman.
Schroeder said Hochmuth has been suspended and his employment status is under review.
"He will not be with us until all the facts are determined in the case. If it is shown he was engaged in it, we would not continue an employment relationship," Schroeder said.
"I would like to emphasize that our church body has no tolerance for behavior such as is alleged and we above all pray for the victims of the production and distribution of child pornography wherever and whenever it happens," he said.
Hochmuth was investigated by the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force after an undercover agent identified a residence in Waukesha that was distributing child pornography, according to the complaint.
Hochmuth was using a software program that allows individuals to connect to each other's computers and browse and download files as well as chat online, according to the complaint.
The agent contacted Hochmuth starting on Oct. 2, browsed files on his computer and downloaded nine files from Hochmuth's home computer, the complaint says. The nine files were the same as the nine files on the thumb drive recovered at Hochmuth's office, the complaint says.
The complaint also states that the agent engaged Hochmuth in chats and that in one Hochmuth told the agent that he liked pictures of males who were 10 years old or older, the complaint states.
The FBI informed Waukesha police, who made the arrest.
Hochmuth's attorney, Paul Bucher, said outside the courtroom, "As you can imagine, he's devastated by the allegations made in the criminal complaint as well as the arrest."
Bucher said he was attempting to get Hochmuth into counseling because Hochmuth indicated in the complaint that he had some adult pornography addiction issues.
Bucher said Hochmuth was not a threat to the community.
"It's just a pornography issue we need to deal with. He's not a threat to children. He's not a threat to any individual. But we need to deal with these serious allegations," Bucher said.
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