Todd Hoiness, 40, head football coach and assistant wrestling coach at Hoquiam High School, in Hoquiam, Washington has been sentenced to six months in the county jail, with 30 days of that time converted to 240 hours of community service.

Hoiness was originally charged with felony first-degree sexual misconduct with a student athlete but instead pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

Hoiness will also be on probation for two years, and if he violates the terms of the probation, he could be required to serve an additional six months in jail.

He is required to register as a sex offender, which he has already done.

At his sentencing hearing, Hoiness said, I don’t know if there’s anybody more acutely aware of the hurt I’ve caused than me. It is my fault. I regret the hurt I’ve caused all families immensely. I also regret my mistakes have had an impact on my high school and my community because I care about them so much.

Prosecutor Stew Menefee had requested a sentence of nine months in jail, with an additional three months suspended during a two-year probationary time. Defense attorney Doug Bitar requested a sentence of 30 days in jail, saying that the punishment inflicted already on Todd Hoiness by himself has been incredible.

Superior Court Judge David Foscue during the hearing is reported to have said,

Whatever the sentence is it is in no way meant to minimize or to demean in any way the impact this has had. I don’t know that I’ve ever sentenced somebody for having consensual sex with an adult, a consensual sexual relationship, but that is not the essence of this. The essence of this is that you had a position of trust that was violated. You were supposed to be protecting the student. I have reason to believe the student was in a vulnerable time in her life. Whatever your intention was or just because you didn’t know to say no, it was your responsibility to set boundaries.

Reference:

Hoiness receives 5 months in jail (8/16/07)

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Todd Hoiness, 40, head football coach and assistant wrestling coach at Hoquiam High School, in Hoquiam, Washington originally charged with felony first-degree sexual misconduct with a student athlete has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

The relationship between Hoiness and the victim reportedly developed as the result of Hoiness counseling the girl owing to a problem she was having with an ex-boyfriend. From there they began text messaging each other, eventually meeting and driving to remote locations and ultimately the relationship progressed to sexual contact.

The girl whose age has been reported as both 17 and 18-years-old at the time of the offense was a member of the girls wrestling team and has since graduated from the school.

Hoiness is scheduled for sentencing on August 9th and the country prosecutor has indicated that he intends to seek a one-year sentence which would require Hoiness to serve 9 months in jail with the remaining three months suspended. The prosecutor also says Hoiness will be required to serve a two-year probation, refrain from contacting the girl and will have to register as a sex offender.

As shocking as it may seem to some, it appears that in Washington state that revocation of Hoiness teaching certificate will not be automatic. Reportedly, officials at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction indicate they will conduct an investigation and then determine what course of action to take.

Update 8/11/07:

The sentencing of Todd Hoiness originally scheduled for August 8th has been rescheduled for August 16th.

Reference:

Hoiness sentencing moved to Thursday (8/11/07)

Coach pleads guilty to sexual contact with HHS student (7/11/07)

Hoquiam coach admits sexual misconduct with wrestler (7/12/07)

HOINESS PLEADS GUILTY (7/11/07)

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Todd Hoiness, 40, a teacher and football coach at Hoquiam High School, in Hoquiam, Washington charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with a student athlete last week was jailed after allegedly violating conditions of his pretrial release.

Hoiness is alleged to have engaged in a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old female student last fall after she had a problem with an ex-boyfriend. The relationship came to the attention of authorities when the girl’s family found “love letters” alleged between Hoiness and the girl and went to police.

At his initial court appearance last week Hoiness was released on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and her family and not to have any unsupervised contact with juveniles, other than his own two children.

Hoiness was jailed when it was discovered that he and the girl were allegedly exchanging text messages over the weekend.

Reference:

Hoquiam High School football coach in jail

Background:

Coach charged with sexual misconduct

Hoquiam coach may face felony

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