CHILD RAPIST GETS 40 YEARS NATURE OF CRIMES DRAWS EXTRA TIME FOR FORMER SOUTH HILL MAN

Section: THE REGION, January 5, 2001
Page: B2
Author: Kevin Blocker Staff writer
Correction: FROM FOR THE RECORD (Saturday, January 6, 2001):

Correction:

Story wrong: Bernhard K. Hoffmann was convicted of two counts of first-degree rape, not one count, as reported in Friday's edition on page B2.

Shaking his head in disbelief, a former South Hill man was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of child rape and molestation.

A jury found Bernhard K. Hoffmann guilty of first-degree child rape, two counts of first-degree child molestation and a count each of second- and third-degree child molestation in November.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Kathleen O'Connor sentenced Hoffmann on Thursday.

Hoffmann declined to address the court when O'Connor presented him with the opportunity.

``I don't think it would be productive or make much difference,'' Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann, who will turn 46 on Monday, videotaped himself having sex with children, as well as other children having sex with each other, at his former home at 805 S. Monroe. Hoffmann's four female victims ranged in age from 6 to 15.

Hoffmann was arrested in September 1999 after two of the girls who lived in the neighborhood told their parents he paid them for sex, say court papers.

One of the girls told police Hoffmann would take her to a ``secret room'' in his house and have sex with her. The oldest girl said Hoffmann told her she'd be ``paid good'' if she agreed to have sex with him, according to court papers.

Hoffmann befriended the families of the girls for as long as five years.

O'Connor handed down the tough sentence because the victims were vulnerable and he abused their trust.

``People trusted him and felt he was a good person,'' O'Connor said. ``They went to him for advice on how to raise children.''

As part of the state's sentencing guidelines, judges take into account an offender's ``score.'' Scores typically range from 0 to 9 depending on past offenses and nature of the crime. The higher the number the harsher the sentence.

O'Connor said Hoffmann's criminal offender score was 15. Prior to the conviction, Hoffmann had never faced felony charges, she said. His score was driven up because of the nature of his crimes.

Deputy Prosecutor Patti Walker said she was more than pleased with O'Connor's decision.

``I think it was an excellent decision. It's as close to justice as we can get for these victims,'' Walker said.

Deputy Prosecutor Sharon Hedlund said the case was frustrating for them because Hoffmann repeatedly changed attorneys - which he has the right to do - during the case.

Hoffmann's last attorney, Richard Sanger, was the fifth attorney to represent him.

``The defendant put up good roadblocks with delays,'' Hedlund said. ``We resisted every continuance, but he was within his rights.''

Hedlund said the delays were tough on the victims and their families as the case dragged on.

``The victims and law enforcement are the ones who need to be commended for this,'' Walker said.

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