By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Samuel Hoffer did not exactly get the position he was hoping for when he applied to be a Wildlife Enforcement Officer with the Muckleshoot Tribe. He is now facing charges for alleged Vehicular Homicide after a background interview was reportedly highlighted by his admission to a deadly drunk driving incident occurring in 2012.
This is the latest in a series of articles, HERE, and HERE, where applicants make career and freedom limiting moves by applying for law enforcement jobs and are subsequently jailed for providing incriminating evidence.
We now have another case of déjà vu all over again.
The 2012 incident unfolded when Mr. Hoffer and a passenger, Joseph Castro were travelling in the Mount Rainier National Park when Hoffer swerved to avoid colliding with a deer. Their truck left the travelled portion of the roadway and bounded down a steep embankment, mortally injuring Mr. Castro. Investigators believed the truck rolled twenty-five times during the accident. Hoffer stated then that Castro was in the back seat, alive but having breathing difficulty. Investigators however discovered Castro’s body three hundred feet from the vehicle and that he had perished.
Mr. Hoffer then walked several miles to a fire station to report the accident. Along the return trip he admitted to consuming one beer and blamed Castro for drinking the numerous beer cans ejected from the truck during the roll-overs.
At the time of the collision investigation, Mr. Hoffer was not charged with a crime.
Matters changed for the worse after Hoffer applied for a Wildlife Enforcement Position with the Muckleshoot Tribe. For conducting pre-employment background investigations, the Tribe contracted with a retired Pierce County deputy sheriff. During the examination, Hoffer reportedly admitted to being intoxicated at the time of the 2012 collision and that Castro was ejected from the vehicle, dying before rescue arrived.
Subsequently, Mr. Hoffer’s collision case was reopened and prosecutors formally charged him with Vehicular Homicide.
It seems his pursuit of a criminal justice career might have been temporarily set back, though if convicted he could still find employment–perhaps as a trustee with the Department of Corrections.
By Darren Smith
Source: KOMO News
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
I am Joseph Castro’s mother. I have/am very involved in this case. The truck rolled 3 times then slid to rested position. Joseph wasn’t intoxicated! Joseph’s body originally landed only 30 feet from the truck where he died. He was instantly knocked unconscious & death was immediate after that. Curious how his dead body ended up another 270 feet down the mountain? Joseph didn’t fly, roll, wasn’t dragged by an animal, and certainly didn’t crawl (dead men can’t crawl). Hoffer & Castro were not the only ones up there that night!Hoffer did not walk out of there. Hoffer has told lie after lie. Hoffer hasn’t shown any remorse zero! Hoffer told Joseph’s younger brother “you need to just get over it” less than 2 weeks after Joseph death. Hoffer is being sentenced this Friday 02-17-17 he will be taken into custody. Justice served
A big scandal involving NY State police planting fingerprint evidence was uncovered after a participant bragged about it during a CIA job interview when asked if he’d be willing break the ordinary rules for a greater good. Some people just don’t know when to keep their mouths shut. Sometimes it works out well.
In Hoffer’ case he should’ve been honest from jump. If he had been none of this would be happening
So sad. If people want to drink, they should just call an Uber. Because by the time they’re drunk and ready to go home, they’ve anesthetized the decision center of their brain. And that puts everyone around them at risk, just so they can “have fun.”
I don’t know if Castro was wearing a seatbelt that broke, but it’s a good reminder to buckle up, too.
Castro wasn’t drunk his bal was under legal limit.
He has been carrying this guilt for a long time to admit it now.
He hasn’t admitted or taken responsibility for any of it. He’s shown zero remorse. He is now finally going to prison 02-17-17
Darren
I’m locked out of Turley’s blog. I didn’t do nothin wrong.
I found some police chief job openings:
Navajo Nation Police Chief job vacant for about 8 years. Window Rock, AZ. Any applicants out there?
Rosebud Sioux Tribe, SD Police Chief job open for almost 2 years.
Bonus….New hire gets to play cowboys and Indian role.
…even worse–these are the types of people who apply for, and still obtain, these low-level law enforcement positions!!! DMD