Probation Officer Indicted On Witness Intimidation

The acting chief probation officer in Hampshire Superior Court has been indicted on witness intimidation charges in the federal investigation into the state Probation Department.

Christopher Hoffman was arrested in December and charged with intimidation and harassment of a witness. The indictment comes after U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor gave prosecutors until May 25 to file an indictment against Hoffman or an "information," a document that can indicate a guilty plea is coming.

The 39-year-old Hoffman is on leave from his state job without pay.

Federal prosecutors allege that Hoffman made threatening and intimidating remarks to a probation officer under his supervision before the officer was scheduled to be interviewed by the FBI in connection with alleged fraudulent hiring practices at the state probation department.