An Indiana man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison and life on supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Darin Schilmiller, 26, and his co-conspirator Denali Brehmer, 24, conspired to murder Cynthia Hoffman in June 2019 while Schilmiller was residing in Indiana.
While they were conspiring to commit murder, they also conspired to exploit a minor victim to produce sexually explicit images, which Brehmer took at photographs and video and sent to Schilmiller via text message, at his direction.
Schilmiller and Brehmer pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in the U.S. District Court in July 2023. Brehmer was sentenced to serve a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and the rest of her life on supervised release.
Both defendants had earlier been sentenced by the State of Alaska to 99 years in prison for their roles in Hoffman’s murder.
Meanwhile, on Friday in Anchorage, Caleb Leyland was sentenced to 30 years for killing Hoffman at Thunderbird Falls near Chugiak.
Leyland had already pleaded guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree. Evidence presented at sentencing showed that on June 2, 2019, Hoffman was shot and killed on the banks of the Eklutna River, and then dumped into the river. While Schilmiller had solicited the murder of Hoffman from Brehmer, in addition to working with her to create child pornography, Leyland participated in the decision that Hoffman would be killed, and was going to receive money for his role in the murder. He provided Brehmer with his car to carry out the murder.
The court was permitted to sentence Leyland to active imprisonment between 15 and 50 years. The State of Alaska requested a sentence of 75 years with 25 years suspended to be followed by 10 years of supervised felony probation. Leyland requested a sentence of 35 years with 10 years suspended to be followed by seven years of supervised felony probation.
Judge Peterson recognized that Cynthia Hoffman’s murder was a “most serious” murder but also found that Leyland played a minor role in the murder. He said Leyland’s youth was a factor in his decision, and that Leyland has good prospects for rehabilitation. Leyland was sentenced to 40 years with 10 years suspended to be followed by 10 years of supervised felony probation.
Kayden McIntosh’s sentencing in the case is scheduled to begin on Nov. 14.
In imposing the sentence on Schilmiller, U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline cited public safety as a paramount consideration, describing the defendant’s actions as predatory, perverted, and sophisticated. Judge Beistline stated, “I can’t think of anything worse than what that I’ve seen here,” and that, “the defendant can’t be permitted to hurt anyone else.”
“This sentence marks the conclusion of a years-long effort to hold the defendants accountable for the tragic consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank the FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department for their commitment to protecting Alaska’s children, and to the Alaska Department of Law for diligently prosecuting the homicide. We remain committed to keeping our state safe and pursuing justice.”
“Mr. Schilmiller committed some of the darkest crimes imaginable, causing immeasurable harm to the victims and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “This sentencing underscores the unrelenting efforts by the investigative and prosecution teams to ensure that none of his sadistic crimes went unpunished. The FBI, the Anchorage Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize holding dangerous offenders accountable and protecting our most vulnerable.”
“This heinous crime had a profound life-long effect on the victim’s family and on this community as well,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case. “It is important that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. Our department is grateful for the assistance we received from the local FBI Office in bringing this case to its conclusion.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Its unclear to me; are these people spending 99 years in prison, as sentenced in Alaska, or some 30 years plus supervised release?
Schilmiller and Brehmer have multiple charges and multiple sentences. – sd
Should be life with no possibility for parole for both.
Should be capital punishment. Period.
100%!!!
This conclusion is the result of years of professional law enforcement agencies. Do not defund them; increase their budget.
I would prefer the death penalty for these scumbags. Probably should kick them off the same cliff.
This citizen is sick of the liberal court system. Bring back the gallows. I would much rather spend the $ we waste on these mouth breathers on some poor kids that need clothes, food and an education.
We’ve had some real bashing of Corrections as of late. Should these guys go to prison? You know, strict Covid policies and not being able to use the phone when they want. Might be too cruel.
Talk about foot dragging justice, in the meantime the lawyers are making a fortune……
Comments are closed.