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Ex-fire marshal will lose pension over porn case

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published April 20, 2005

TAMPA - When former Hillsborough Fire Marshal Donald Goff gets out of federal prison in three years for possessing child pornography and transferring obscene materials to a minor, he won't have a dime of his retirement pension left.

That's exactly what Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms says she wanted.

"I've been pretty much (going) nonstop and trying to crawl over every wall and get into every window and get all the pieces of information possible" to have the state revoke Goff's pension, Storms said Tuesday. "It was exactly what I was seeking."

County officials circulated an e-mail Tuesday saying Florida Retirement Systems administrators had begun the process to forfeit all of Goff's future retirement benefits. The state may also take back any money deposited into Goff's bank account since he abruptly resigned his post with Hillsborough Fire Rescue in June.

He's gotten $3,148.75 a month since that time, according to the county.

"Due to Mr. Goff's incarceration, FRS may not immediately pursue legal action to regain those prior benefits, but if he obtains employment in the future, FRS may seek legal action to recover those benefits that have been paid," the e-mail reads.

Goff pleaded guilty and accepted a plea agreement in August to federal charges of possession of child pornography and transferring obscene materials to a minor. He began serving a 37-month sentence at a federal prison in Texas last month.

A federal arrest affidavit showed that Goff, using his home computer, participated in an online chat room meant for 9- to 15-year-old children last June. Records show he made contact with an FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl, and tried several times to arrange a sexual encounter with her.

On Goff's work computer, technicians found links to pornographic Web sites and Goff admitted to visiting several "personals" sites while on duty, including Yahoo! Personals.

"I don't have any empathy for him," Hillsborough Fire Chief William Nesmith said Tuesday. "He knew what he was doing. He violated every confidence I had placed in him."

Goff would have received the $3,000-plus pension every month for the rest of his life, Nesmith said. A June 30 statement showed Goff had $110,974.95 in his deferred compensation plan account.

"He threw 18 years away," Nesmith said. "I hate to see anybody lose their pension, but you've got to be held accountable."

Storms initiated the investigation, and said now she's satisfied she's done everything to strip Goff of his retirement benefits.

"We should absolutely send the strongest possible message that, in any way, shape or form, we're going to go after you and we're going to seek restitution," she said.

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 20, 2005, 02:56:36]