Brooksville woman convicted in child sex crime case, faces life sentence

A Brooksville woman’s guilty verdict has pushed one of Hernando County’s most serious child-exploitation cases into the sentencing phase, where Jenna Ann Hoffman now faces a minimum mandatory term of 25 years to life in prison. If the court does not impose life, Hoffman would be subject to lifetime probation after release, a penalty structure that keeps the case tightly tied to public safety in Hernando County.

A jury found Hoffman, 22, guilty on May 27 of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, promoting sexual performance of a child, possession of sexual performance of a child with intent to promote, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Sentencing is scheduled for July 13. Under Florida law, lewd or lascivious molestation against a victim younger than 12 by an offender 18 or older is a life felony, underscoring the severity of the conviction now awaiting final punishment.

The investigation began on Sept. 23, 2024, when Hernando County Sheriff’s Office investigators received information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office involving a tip about child sexual abuse material. Detectives believed the suspect was living in Hernando County and identified Hoffman at a residence on Snow Memorial Highway in Brooksville. A family member later identified the child depicted in the material as Hoffman’s 23-month-old child.

Investigators said Hoffman admitted creating and transmitting videos involving the child and said a stranger on social media offered payment for the material, though she said she never received it. The case moved quickly once investigators received the tip, and Hoffman was held without bond at the Hernando County Detention Center after arrest.

The convictions also highlight how child-exploitation cases can surface through tips from outside agencies and then depend on rapid coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors. Florida statutes define child sexual performance and child pornography offenses as involving a minor younger than 18 engaged in sexual conduct, and Hernando County officials have repeatedly stressed that arrest records alone do not reflect the final outcome of a case. Here, the verdict is the milestone that matters, and the July 13 sentencing hearing will determine whether Hoffman spends the rest of her life behind bars or under permanent supervision after release.