Firefighter Fetish Warrants Criminal Charges

CBS 4 Denver, in Longmont, has reported that Jesse Hodgson, a firefighter that has been employed by the Mountain View Fire Protection District for the last ten years, has been placed on administrative leave while criminal charges are investigated.

Hodgson has been charged with sexual assaults that allegedly stem from a yearlong sexual fetish - that has also led to the end of his marriage.

The Mountain View fire department serves Boulder and Weld counties, as well as the rural communities of Longmont and Dacono. 

Hodgson was promoted to an engineer's position - that is the officer that drives the fire truck - a few years ago.  Along with that assignment, Hodgson was also responsible to serve as the department's public information officer.

Hodgson is now suspended from all positions in the department due to the seriousness of the crimes he is being charged with.

Steven Pischke, the Mountain View Deputy Chief, has said that Hodgson was immediately remanded to paid leave after his December arrest.  By January 10 the department's attorney advised that he no longer receive his pay until the criminal case is resolved.

The fire department must also complete its own internal investigation.  The department has never had to investigate any charges of this nature against a fire fighter in the past.

Chief Pischke said, "We were shocked, pure and simple. It's something no one likes to hear and when it's one of your own it makes it even more difficult."

The Weld County District Attorney's office has charged Hodgson with felony sexual assault on a helpless victim, sexual assault while overcoming a victim's will, three counts of sexual contact without the victim's consent and four counts of indecent exposure.

Todd Burnham, Hodgson's attorney, stated that his client is "going through a tough time" and that "Jesse is very comfortable with the truth and we are confident that justice will prevail. Where we go from here is do our fact finding, diligence and eventually the truth will come out."

The arrest affidavit specifically lists Hodgson's fetish as one that involves the use of diapers.  His estranged wife reported that he has a "diaper fetish" and wore them "regularly".

Hodgson is accused of exposing the fetish to a young girl, asking her to participate and putting diapers on her as a form of punishment. 

In a separate incident, he has been accused of raping a relative in her kitchen after a Memorial Day party.  The woman admitted to police that she had drank too much and that Hodgson used that fact to take advantage of the situation.

Another victim, and a friend of Hodgson's wife, reported that he exposed himself to her and touched her inappropriately.

The fire department's ongoing investigation so far had not led to any proof of criminal activities while Hodgson was engaged in fire department business, all actions seem to have occurred on his private time.

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