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PrevPrevious EpisodeHofmann, Church Leaders, & the McLellin Collection (Part 6)
Next ExpisodeWhen Mark Hofmann Met Sandra Tanner (Part 1)Next

Why was the Hofmann Sentence so light? (Part 7)

Table of Contents: Why was the Hofmann Sentence so light? (Part 7)

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Given all the mounting evidence against Mark Hofmann, why were prosecutors interested in a plea deal?  It seems evidence was pretty strong to convict him of a 1st Degree murder.  George Throckmorton tells of conversations between prosecutors and Hofmann’s lawyers.  Why was the Hofmann sentence so light?

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GT:  I know he’s gotten a big stiff sentence anyway, even with second degree murder. Well, why did we plea bargain to second degree murder on this?

George: Politics.  It has always intrigued me. The amount of politics that takes place in everything, criminal investigations are the same thing.

…

George:  But because there was instructions made to settle the case period, it was settled before it should have been. And for instance, it’s normal in law enforcement if ever you make a plea bargain. The purpose is you get the confession from the person first and if that person cooperates, then you go in and recommend the plea bargain because if you made the plea bargain first, the suspect has no reason to cooperate and that’s exactly what happened with Mark Hofmann.

…

George:  But in retrospect, looking back at it, I do not criticize the attorneys that I disagreed with because as we look back, because he did confess, the FBI had to admit that they were forged and other people had to admit that he was a crook instead of an honest guy that we were framing, if you will. So overall it turned out okay.

Check out our conversation….

George Throckmorton tells why the Hofmann sentence was so light for killing 2 people.
George Throckmorton tells why the Hofmann sentence was so light for killing 2 people.

Don’t forget our other episodes with George!

174: Hofmann, LDS Leaders, & the McLellin Collection (Throckmorton)

173: Why Hofmann Killed his Best Friends (Throckmorton)

172: Who was the 3rd Bomb Intended For?  (Throckmorton)

171: More Hofmann Techniques & Forged Sports Memorabilia  (Throckmorton)

170: How Hofmann Fooled Experts with a Toy Chemistry Set (Throckmorton)

169: How George Became a Forensics Expert  (Throckmorton)

You may be interested in Curt Bench and Shannon’s Flynn’s interactions as well!

086: Would Hofmann Kill Again? (Flynn)

085: Should Hofmann Ever Be Released from Prison? (Flynn)

084: Shannon Goes to Jail for Hofmann (Flynn)

083: Hofmann’s Last Bomb Blew the Lid off Mormon History (Flynn)

082: Hoffman’s Best Fake:  Fooling the Lie Detector Test (Flynn)

081: Mark’s Million-Dollar Con (Flynn)

080: “I Cheat People.  That’s What I do for a Living.” (Flynn)

079: Hofmann’s Teenage Forgeries (Flynn)

—

042: Hofmann Bombings Effects on Mormon History (Bench)

041: Should LDS Leaders have Detected Hofmann’s Fraud? (Bench)

040: Curt Bench’s role in Hofmann Bombings Court Case (Bench)

039: Bomb Day 2:  Other Targets? – Oct 16, 1985 (Bench)

038: Bomb Day 1:  2 Killed – October 15, 1985 (Bench)

037: White Salamander Letter & Other Forgeries (Bench)

036: Bombs in Salt Lake: Introduction to Mark Hofmann (interview with Curt Bench)

 

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More Podcasts with these Guests:

  • Nephi's Voyage to New World (George Potter 1 of 4)
  • Hofmann’s Court Mistake (Part 11 of 13)
  • Why 3rd Bomb Wasn’t Suicide Attempt (Part 6 of 13)
  • Trials of Lee/Forgery
  • Buying the Spalding Conspiracy

Get more information on the people and things discussed in this episode:

  • Guest: George Throckmorton
  • Hofmann Bombings/Forgeries, Mormon violence
  • Historical Mentions Mark Hoffman, Mark Hofmann, Mormon History
  • Tags: GT Podcast, iTunes, Mark Hoffman, Mark Hofmann, murder

Tell me when the next episode drops!

PrevPrevious EpisodeHofmann, Church Leaders, & the McLellin Collection (Part 6)
Next ExpisodeWhen Mark Hofmann Met Sandra Tanner (Part 1)Next
  • Date: July 14, 2018
  • Guest: George Throckmorton
  • Hofmann Bombings/Forgeries, Mormon violence
  • Historical Mentions Mark Hoffman, Mark Hofmann, Mormon History
  • Tags: GT Podcast, iTunes, Mark Hoffman, Mark Hofmann, murder
  • Posted By: RickB

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Rick Bennett is the friendly, independent historian at the heart of Gospel Tangents LDS Podcast: The Best Source for Mormon History, Science, and Theology. When he isn't interviewing Mormon scholars, prophets, and others, he is teaching math and statistics at Utah Valley University. He also freelances as a research biostatistician in the fields of Dermatology and Traumatic Brian Injuries, as well as in the network television/cable T.V. industries as a sports statistician. Rick holds a Master of Statistics Degree from the University of Utah.

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