Alli sting suspect gets 90 days

Stephen Hoffman, 26, Moscow, one of the suspects in the Colfax “Alli” case, was sentenced to 90 days in jail Friday morning in superior court. Hoffman pleaded guilty March 24 to an amended charge of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

He was one of three suspects charged after they allegedly responded to an internet posting by “Alli, “ a fictional 15-year-old girl created by a Colfax police officer who stated she wanted to have a relationship with an older male. The posting specifically noted that Alli was 15 years old.

Hoffman’s case varied from the charges of the other two defendants in that he actually showed up for a meeting with Alli and was arrested at that time.

Judge David Frazier, who was presiding, said he was impressed by the state’s pre-sentence report which was prepared after Hoffman entered his plea. The judge said he opted to go along with the prosecutor’s recommendation for 90 days in jail because Hoffman received a break when the state reduced the charge from second-degree rape. Hoffman was also placed on three years of probation and ordered to pay $800 in fines and fees.

Defense attorney Steve Martonick urged the court to hand down a one month sentence, the minimum, after pointing out there was no potential actual victim in the case.

Hoffman read a statement in which he told the court he believes dealing with the impact the episode has had on his family far out weighs the sentence. He read a five-year self-improvement plan which included getting a job, college degree possibly in business, and saving up to start a business. He also said he plans to complete a long-time plan of writing a book.