Aug. 21—A 35-year-old Jerome man is facing charges that he had multiple sexual encounters with an underage girl.
Colton Shane Hoffman was charged in July with lewd conduct with a minor under 16, rape involving a victim under 16, sexual battery of a child, along with a separate count of domestic battery involving a Jerome woman, court records say.
He is being held on a $250,000 bond.
Even though the crimes are alleged to have taken place in Jerome, the Twin Falls Police Department was asked to conduct the investigation because Hoffman is a firefighter for the Jerome Fire Department, records say.
City Administrator Mike Williams told the Times-News on Tuesday that Hoffman is on administrative leave without pay.
Charges against Hoffman allege the encounters with the girl began as early as October, and she said she had sex at least 10 times with Hoffman at a house, as well as multiple times on trips.
In June, records say, Hoffman and the girl engaged in oral sex at the Jerome Fire Station.
Investigators said Hoffman admitted in June to sleeping in the same bed as the girl but said he did so to support her emotionally.
As evidence began to build and he was interviewed again on July 10, Hoffman commented he "didn't know what to say," the police affidavit says.
The count of domestic battery relates a separate incident said to have occurred on June 3 in which Hoffman is accused of engaging in a fight with a woman. Records say Hoffman confirmed to investigators that the altercation happened, but both he and the woman were fighting.
Hoffman's preliminary hearing was held Aug. 15, court records say, and his next court date has not been determined.
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