The family of a victim involved in a child sex abuse case, prosecuted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office, has publicly expressed their frustration with the political exploitation of their situation, stating they are “tired of being used.”
Paxton’s opponent in the U.S. Senate race, state Rep. James Talarico, has focused heavily on this case as a key point of contention against the attorney general. In recent weeks, Talarico has conducted multiple press conferences questioning Paxton’s management of the situation, particularly highlighting the initial plea deal offered to a Waco man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a young boy, which included just one day in jail.
In a statement shared on social media by family spokesperson Melissa Dieterich, the victim’s family made it clear: “We have not given any statement to Talarico. We have not spoken to him. We are tired of being used in this election. We are tired of lies being told by both Paxton and Talarico, tired of the divide and just tired.”
Talarico’s campaign responded, emphasizing their support for the family, which they described as having endured an unimaginable ordeal. “This family has gone through hell and deserves our care and respect,” said spokesperson JT Ennis. He noted that many have called for justice regarding the plea deal, including local residents and officials, emphasizing that “Texans have demanded justice to ensure this never happens to another family.”
The case centers around 49-year-old Adam Dean Hoffman, an attorney accused of subjecting a young boy to years of sexual abuse. Reports from May revealed that the case concluded in a mistrial after the victim chose not to testify again, severely limiting the prosecution’s options. Under the plea agreement, Hoffman admitted to molesting the victim and agreed to surrender his law license, leading to widespread protests and national attention due to the controversial nature of the deal.
The plea agreement has faced backlash from various local officials, including the McLennan County district attorney and several Republican state representatives, as well as the judge overseeing the case, Roy Sparkman. Sparkman, a former Republican judge, had previously rejected an earlier version of the plea deal that would have allowed Hoffman to serve only one day in jail.
Paxton’s campaign did not provide a comment regarding the family’s statements. However, a campaign representative previously accused Talarico of “intentionally re-traumatizing the child victim for personal gain.” Madison Cercy, a spokesperson, asserted that Talarico is prioritizing political maneuvering over the truth, stating, “The bottom line is that we stand with the child victim.”
In May, prosecutors from the attorney general’s office communicated with a state lawmaker questioning the plea deal, indicating their readiness for a second trial, but noted that the victim preferred to focus on his mental and emotional well-being. “The child emphasized that he preferred to move on with his life and prioritize his mental and emotional health,” the prosecutors, Brenda Cantu and Dorian Cotlar, wrote.
Talarico is not the first politician to leverage this case for campaign purposes; Republican Senator John Cornyn, who recently lost a runoff to Paxton, also criticized Paxton’s handling of the case in his campaign advertisements.
The victim’s family has engaged with the public through spokespeople and participated in a news conference in May alongside state Rep. Jeff Leach and Pat Curry, where the victim’s mother condemned the plea agreement, labeling it a “sweetheart deal” and called for accountability from Paxton. While she did not directly endorse Cornyn, Dieterich stated that Paxton “does not deserve a promotion to the U.S. Senate.”
