The ex-wife of a federal judge who belongs to a prominent Virginia family is accused of distributing child pornography and attempted child sex trafficking, but the woman says she was just trying to help a minor in danger, WRIC-TV reports.
Eleanor Hunton Hoppe, 45, of Charlottesville, was charged earlier this month in federal court in connection with the disturbing allegations.
Authorities allege that Hoppe sent an undercover FBI agent graphic child pornography and then sought to abuse the undercover agent’s fictitious minor daughter, according to court records obtained by CrimeOnline.
The case is drawing attention because Hoppe has previously worked with child advocacy organizations and she is the former wife of Joel Hoppe, a federal magistrate judge in the Western District of Virginia, according to the Daily Progress. Hoppe and her ex-spouse are the parents of two girls aged 10 and 12.
Court documents show that Hoppe got on the government’s radar when she allegedly contacted a user on a fetish website about “taboo parenting,” but that user ended up being the FBI agent.
Communicating under the usernames “titotori” and “tori4fun” through an encrypted social media app, Hoppe allegedly verified her identity when she sent a photo of herself displaying a thumbs-up hand sign with an exposed breast and her face partly in the shot.
The FBI agent allegedly described sexual abuse he was inflicting on his non-existent daughter, and Hoppe responded that she would travel to meet him and participate in the horrific abuse.
“I can’t wait and then of course, putting her to bed and waking her up to do a few extra things will be so fun,” Hoppe allegedly wrote, according to WRIC-TV.
The exchanges allegedly occurred between February and March.
Hoppe sent the agent a video of explicit sexual abuse of a child and then arranged to meet the agent and his 8-year-old daughter at a hotel in Warrenton, Virginia, according to federal prosecutors, who also say Hoppe sent the agent three additional images of child pornography.
In planning the meeting, Hoppe allegedly told the agent that she would bring a pink silk robe for the girl, describing it as the girl’s “big girl robe for tonight,” according to the television station.
Hoppe arrived at the hotel on March 20 and was subsequently arrested. She told agents that she sought the meeting to help the agent’s fictitious daughter and had sent the explicit video of child sexual abuse only to keep the agent talking.
Investigators located a pink robe inside Hoppe’s vehicle in addition to silk underwear and lubricant.
Since Hoppe’s arrest, her former husband has sought full custody of his two daughters.
Records of the divorce proceedings show Hoppe’s former husband accused her of seeking extramarital affairs with men and women, and that in at least one instance, she had brought a sex partner to their home while the children were inside, according to The Daily Mail.
Hoppe has pleaded not guilty to the charges. She remains detained without bond. If convicted, she faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison.
A court hearing is scheduled for June 6.
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[Feature Photo: Eleanor Hunton Hoppe/Facebook]
