Brown County man sentenced for criminal sexual conduct

Sentenced to 90 months in St. Cloud prison

NEW ULM -- A 20-year-old New Ulm man was sentenced to 90 months in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility for second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Brown County District Court Tuesday.

Cub Westley Hoffmann was credited with 332 days served.

Judge Robert Docherty said Hoffmann needs a long-term, secure environment and he didn't see any option other than 90 months with the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

According to court documents, Hoffmann became involved in the child protection system at age five due to neglect and severe abuse. He exhibited behavioral issues and sexualized behavior addressed by children's mental health services and community-based intervention.

At age 13, he began a series of out of home placements due to his sexually maladaptive conduct.

Hoffmann was 17 years old when he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy while both were in residential treatment at Bar None in Oak Grove, near Anoka.

Bar None provides intensive, therapeutic, and residential care to adolescent males experiencing serious mental health and/or chemical issues.

Hoffmann was placed on extended jurisdictional juvenile (EJJ) status but failed the juvenile portion of his sentence. Hoffmann is now an adult and was sentenced to the adult portion of the case.

Hoffmann said the 12-year-old boy told him he was 14 or 15 years old, but he later learned he was 12. Hoffmann said he felt badly about the behavior because he took advantage of a 12-year-old boy.

"This is one of the more disturbing cases I have been involved with in Brown County," said Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson, who was elected Brown County Attorney in 2014.

According to a case report by Minnesota Department of Corrections Agent Emily Douglas, Hoffmann expressed a desire to change and be given another chance but his actions didn't support that, according to text messages he sent from Feb. 3, 2023 to March 2, 2023. Jail messages were blocked after a recipient identified himself as an 11-year-old.

"It is clear that there have been extensive services and intervention offered to Hoffmann in his lifetime," Douglas reported. "He (Hoffmann) was placed in the most secure sex offender treatment program in Minnesota for juveniles but he was unsuccessfully discharged after two months."

A psychosexual evaluation completed Jan. 11, 2023 by Charles Dawley assessed Hoffmann "to be a significant threat in regard to further sexually abusive behavior." Dawley recommended the court consider further evaluation/examination for potential civil commitment.