Friends say man not rapist

Friends of a Carson City man accused of rape say the woman's allegations are false.

"I saw her that day and she was smiling and laughing at John's apartment," said Sylvia Cervantes, fiancee of John Hoffer's brother Michael.

The 34-year-old unidentified woman from Fernley claimed Hoffer, 32, assaulted her three times at his William Street apartment about noon on Sunday.

Employees from Albertsons on North Carson Street called police just before midnight when the woman showed up there hysterical and claiming she was raped. She also claimed Hoffer's other brother, Chad, stole her vehicle.

Hoffer, who was on house arrest on a federal charge, is being held in the Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony sexual assault and battery with intent to commit sexual assault.

Cervantes, Hoffer's brother Michael and Scott and Amber Letizia said they spoke with the victim at Hoffer's apartment twice - once at noon and again at 6 p.m. and both times she was relaxed and laughing.

Detective Bob Motamenpour said Tuesday he recovered photographs taken Sunday from Hoffer's cell phone in which the victim posed provocatively in the nude.

"He says it was consensual sex," Motamenpour said Hoffer told him Tuesday.

District Attorney Noel Waters said further investigation is needed before determining whether Hoffer's charges are justified.

"There are serious allegations," he said.

Chad Hoffer was arrested in Reno on unrelated domestic battery charges Monday night. Cervantes said he called the owner of the vehicle the victim claimed he stole and told him the car was left at a gas station with a tank of gas in it. The vehicle was recovered by the owner.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.