Former Wels Official Pleads Guilty to Porn Charge

WISN
March 9, 2012

http://www.wisn.com/r/30646312/detail.html


WAUKESHA, Wis. -- A former high-ranking official with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod pleaded guilty Friday to one count of possession of child pornography.

Joel Hochmuth, 52, pleaded guilty to the first count in exchange for two other counts being dropped by the Waukesha County District Attorney's office.

The plea deal cancels Hochmuth's jury trial, which was scheduled for next week.

Hochmuth was the director of communications for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod at the time of his arrest Nov. 15, 2011.

Prosecutor Jennifer Lough said Hochmuth shared child pornography via the Internet with an undercover FBI agent, which led to his arrest..

According to the criminal complaint, Hochmuth admitted to an officer that he had been struggling with an addiction to viewing pornographic photos and videos of young boys in sexually explicit poses. Police said he denied ever creating pornography but had collected images over the Internet.

Officers also found a thumb drive full of pornographic images and videos at Hochmuth's Wauwatosa office, according to the criminal complaint.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 4.