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	Court for Former Lutheran Official in Waukesha Child Porn Trial WTMJ December 15, 2011 http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/135722338.html WAUKESHA - A former Lutheran official accused of possession child pornography was expected to appear in a Waukesha courtroom on Friday. Authorities arrested Joel Hochmuth at his home in Waukesha County. He was set to have a preliminary hearing at 10:00 a.m. Friday after being charged with three counts of possessing child pornography. The former communications director of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod told investigators he had been struggling with an addiction to viewing pornographic images of young boys. "He is facing substantial exposure, 75 years in the state prison system," said Court Commissioner Martin Binn. Court documents show investigators uncovered more than 1,000 images and videos of "young males engaged in sex acts." After speaking with Hochmuth, detectives also found explicit pictures in the man's office at the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. "I can tell you on one of the thumb drive at his work, there were about 310 particular files on that thumb drive," said Waukesha Police Sergeant Jerry Habanek. "I am totally shocked," explained Rev. Mark Schroeder, the president of WELS. "All of us are shocked, devastated that something like this could possibly happen." Hochmuth has been fired.
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