A 19-year-old Louisville man was convicted Monday in connection with a sexual relationship with a teenager, pleading no contest to first-degree sexual assault and possession of child sexual abuse material in a case out of Cass County, Nebraska. Daniel Hoefener is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2027.
The case began after the victim's mother called deputies after seeing messages on the social media platform Discord between her 14-year-old daughter and an adult man, according to KETV. An investigator believed the man to be Hoefener based on a prior investigation, the station reports.
According to an affidavit cited by the station, Hoefener admitted to having sexual intercourse with the teenager three times. He also told deputies he was not aware of the victim's age, per the same affidavit. The station's report notes that he ended contact with her after that earlier investigation.
What the Plea Agreement Resolved
As part of the deal, Hoefener had three other felonies related to sexual or child abuse set aside in exchange for his pleas, the outlet's report states. The exact final disposition of those three felonies beyond their inclusion in the plea agreement has not been detailed publicly.
Under Nebraska law, sexual assault of a child in the first degree is a Class IB felony carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for a first offense, according to the Nebraska Legislature. Separately, state law makes it unlawful for a person 19 years of age or older to knowingly possess or receive child sexual abuse material, per the Nebraska Legislature. The general sentencing range for a first-offense first-degree sexual assault of a child is 15 years to life, though that does not establish which range applies to Hoefener individually.
What Happens Next
Hoefener's sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2027, though it remains unconfirmed whether that date will hold or what sentence a judge will ultimately impose. No court filing, prosecutor statement, defense statement, or victim statement has been made publicly available detailing further specifics of the case.
