Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A Shawano man charged with 11 felony counts of possessing child pornography also had a cache of so-called snuff videos depicting women being murdered, according to the criminal complaint, though none of the charges filed against him are related to those videos.
Gerald R. Hoffman, 39, could face a maximum 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for each of the child porn counts if found guilty.
Shawano police, acting on a cyber tip from the Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, executed a search warrant at Hoffman’s residence on July 4. They were assisted by Shawano County sheriff’s detectives.
According to the complaint, a forensic analysis of computer equipment seized revealed images of prepubescent female engaged in sexual activity.
The analysis also found another folder that, according to the complaint, included “video and still image files that appeared to be extremely graphic videos and images of persons being killed and mutilated, including having their heads cut off, numerous images of persons hanging (rope or other items around the person’s neck), in some instances persons being hung/suspended by various body parts including the genitals.”
According to the complaint, Hoffman told authorities he had gotten the files from “a Russian guy” he had made contact with on a fetish website.
Snuff videos have been an underground phenomenon for at least 50 years, going back to the days when they were traded on 8mm film. There has often been debate about whether the murders depicted were real.
Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Gordon Kowaleski said this was the first time he has ever run across such videos during an investigation.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before,” he said.
Kowaleski said it wasn’t clear if any of the videos depicted actual killings.
“Some are fake; some I don’t know,” he said.
A $50,000 signature bond was set in Hoffman’s case. He is due back in court Monday for an adjourned initial appearance.
Kowaleski said possession of the snuff videos is not illegal. If the origin of the videos can be determined, the matter will be referred back to that jurisdiction for further investigation, he said.