Attorney: “Von Kohorn is Not a Pedophile”

It’s been 11 months since former Wilton Preschool Services aide Eric von Kohorn was arrested on charges of possession of child pornography, to which he initially plead ‘not guilty.’ But in a Bridgeport courtroom on Thursday, July 16, he changed his plea to a ‘guilty’ one.

Von Kohorn’s attorney, Jason Sheffield, spoke with GOOD Morning Wilton late Thursday afternoon. He said that the guilty plea von Kohorn entered was a type called an Alford plea. CT law considers that type of plea in a criminal case one in which the defendant does not admit guilt, but agrees that the state has enough evidence against him or her to get a conviction, and it allows the defendant to enter into a plea bargain with the state. If the judge accepts the Alford Plea, a guilty finding is made on the record.

Originally the two charges filed against von Kohorn after his arrest in August 2014 were possession of child pornography first degree and promoting the obscene performance of a minor. Following the plea bargain with the state’s attorney’s office, Von Kohorn only plead to a reduced charge of possession of child pornography second degree.

“Eric von Kohorn is not a child molester. He never touched a child or committed any offense against a child. The state alleged that they had strong evidence against him and they were prepared to take the case to trial. Based on the state’s attorney’s office decision to dismiss the promoting a minor charge and to reduce the [other] charge, he felt it was in his best interest to enter the Alford plea,” Sheffield said.

When asked if von Kohorn made any statement of apology or remorse, Sheffield said he did not.

“The plea today came from looking at the evidence we felt the state would be offering at a trial, and trying to assess what a jury might think about that evidence,” Sheffield said. “This was a life decision, and he did not stand in court and enter just a guilty plea; he said to the judge that he disagrees with some or all of the evidence that the state says they have against him. However should the state be able to pursue that evidence, a jury could believe them, and the risk of that was greater than entering the plea today.”

The attorney did try to reassure parents upset by the case.

“What is most important for anyone to understand, and I know you have very concerned parents and readers, he has never done anything to any child, including the students there at Wilton schools. We hope the information we’ve put forth is satisfying, but it’s still very, very difficult,” Sheffield said.

He acknowledged that there was tremendous fear felt in the community when the story first broke, and he credited the school district’s response to helping parents deal with the worry. He tried to reassure parents further.

“Mr. von Kohorn is not a pedophile. He does not have pedophilic disorder–and by that I mean that he does not have a sexual interest in children, that is not a sustained sexual interest. He does not have a sexual interest, as we speak, in young children. These are all things we presented to the state’s attorney’s office, to encourage them to look at this case differently. We tested him by the finest professionals in the country, on long term sexual interest, on immediate sexual interest, had him polygraphed–all of those things with the conclusion, we feel, there was no hands-on offense, there’s no pedophilia, there’s no pedophilic disorder.”

He called the time since von Kohorn’s arrest “debilitating” for his client.

“He has continued to demonstrate good character and his hard work ethic. He has a great community of support around him, which underscores the fact that he really is a good man. He faced a very difficult decision, one that you never imagine you ever have to make, and he made what he felt was the best one. He’s going to get through this. He’s got people who support him in the community. He’ll be able to work, be with family and friends. We believe he’ll be very successful following his two years,” Sheffield said.

Von Kohorn is currently employed, and Sheffield said he will continue to work until sentencing in October, when he will likely be taken into custody. Sheffield declined to say where his client is currently working.

“The people who are supportive of him and the people who work with him, they understand what he’s been charged with. They understand that he has vehemently denied doing anything wrong, and they understand that he had to make a decision where you look at the criminal justice system and what happens in a court of law, and it’s very easy for the state to bring evidence to bear against a person and to have an argument that the person has done what he’s accused of, and the risk of that is great. They continue to support him and believe in him, that he’s a good person,” he said.

According to the CT penal code, the difference between first and second degree for the possession charge depends on the number of images:  first degree is 50 or more images or one or more images depicting infliction of serious physical injury, and is considered a Class B felony; second degree is more than 20 images but fewer than 50, which is a Class C felony.

Von Kohorn’s sentencing is scheduled to take place Oct. 9. According to the criminal code, a Class C felony carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence. Following his release, von Kohorn will likely be placed on probation, potentially up to 10 years.