David Hohsfield - Repeat Sex Offender - Gets a wrist slap

David Hohsfield, 53, faced a possible 51-year prison sentence on charges of attempted kidnapping, child luring and violating the provisions of Megan's Law, which he violated for the sixth time in February.

Under a plea agreement reached recently, he pleaded guilty only to the least serious charge against him, child endangerment, admitting he made a comment about a 15-year-old girl's buttocks while he was fully aware she was a minor. In exchange, the other charges were dropped. As a result, he faces a maximum of five years behind bars.

That's outrageous. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office should have vigorously pursued each charge against him, with the goal of keeping him behind bars for good.

Hohsfield, classified as a high-risk offender by the state Sex Offender Registry, was accused of trying to lure a 15-year-old girl into his car outside a Wawa store in Toms River in January 2008. The circumstances surrounding his Megan's Law violation convictions are similar enough to make your skin crawl. Each time, he approached young women and teenage girls about modeling, sometimes attempting to lure them into his car. His first conviction was in 1998, when he was sent to prison for sexually assaulting a minor he enticed by talking to her about a modeling career.

At Hohsfield's sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled, the judge should make certain Hohsfield serves every day of the five-year maximum term. Upon his release, Hohsfield should receive lifetime electronic monitoring. His repeated violations of the law show his utter disdain for it. When he eventually sees the outside of prison walls, law enforcement should be ready to watch his every move.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte