How a judge's arrest fits into America's deportation drive
SIX FEDERAL agents arrived at a Milwaukee courthouse on April 18th. They intended to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican man who had illegally re-entered the country after being deported. He was due in court that day to face domestic-violence charges. When Hannah Dugan, the judge in his case, heard the agents were after him she called off Mr Flores-Ruiz's hearing and allegedly led him away through a jury door. After a foot chase, Mr Flores-Ruiz was taken into custody. He wasn't the only one. On April 25th the FBI arrested Ms Dugan on two criminal charges: obstructing a federal proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. She could face up to six years in prison.
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Virginia woman seemed like an average 'soccer mom'...now judge's ex-wife, 46, learns fate after pedo sting arrest
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She is also the granddaughter of Eppa Hunton IV, former head of Hunton & Williams, now Hunton Andrews Kurth, one of Virginia's largest law firms. The court documents also claim that her crimes were caused by medication she was prescribed for restless leg syndrome, which induced 'hypersexuality' and a 'shift in sexual interests'. The Daily Mail reported in April 2023, that her ex-husband, federal judge Joel Hoppe, was fighting for full custody of their daughters then-aged 10 and 12, citing the shocking allegations against the mom in his legal documents. The ex spouses had previously agreed to joint physical custody in May 2021 after a messy divorce battle – during which the magistrate judge accused his ex-wife of hunting for sex with other men and women. But, just seven days after Hoppe was arrested at the hotel, the judge filed in Albemarle Circuit Court, Charlottesville, to reopen their divorce paperwork and obtain full custody of the two young girls. His filing states: 'A Final Order of Divorce was entered on May 11, 2021 resolving the issues of spousal support and child support. A final Custody and Visitation Order was entered on March 8, 2022. 'The defendant was taking into federal custody on March 16, 2023 on felony criminal charges involving minors. 'The criminal charges, the facts underlying the charges, and the consequences of the charges constitute a material change in circumstances regarding custody, visitation, spousal support and child support.' The judge then asked for the previous arrangement to be modified and has since successfully gained full custody of their two girls. From a mansion to prison cell: The shocking fall of Eleanor Hunton Hoppe Eleanor Hunton Hoppe grew up in a magnificent five bedroom, five bathroom Colonial Revival-style spread from the early 1900s in Westhampton, one of Richmond's most desirable neighborhoods. She was privately educated at the city's prestigious St Catherine's School – an Episcopal establishment for girls – and went on to obtain a BA in psychology from the University of Virginia. She can trace her family's links in Virginia back to Eppa Hunton I, who was born in 1789 and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. One of his sons, Eppa Hunton II, brought the family even more prominence. He was a lawyer who rose to become Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War and later served as a Democrat in the US House of Representatives and then the US Senate. It was his son, Eppa Hunton III, who co-founded the law firm Munton, Hunton, Williams & Anderson which is now known as Hunton, Andrews, Kurth, and employs more than 900 attorneys in 20 offices. Hoppe's 75-year-old father used an email address from the firm when he had his daughter's 2019 charge dismissed. The accused mom boasts of working with several organizations involving young people and child advocacy on her LinkedIn page. She spent two years with non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, a support service helping local young people. The organization told us: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of this report involving an individual who formerly worked with our organization. 'Upon learning of the charges, our organization proactively reached out to law enforcement officials to share Ms. Hoppe's employment history with our organization. The safety and well-being of the children we serve is our highest priority.' Hoppe also spent a year at non-profit ReadyKids in the city, which offers counseling, family support and early learning opportunities. She was an 'early learning specialist… and in charge of all early learning playgroups' in three locations according to her LinkedIn biography. ReadyKids also said it is distraught to hear of the charges. 'As an organization that prioritizes child safety, we can confirm that Ms. Hoppe passed all required background checks, including criminal history and child protective services, and was employed in a program that worked exclusively with groups of parents present with their children. 'We strongly condemn any and all acts of violence against children and know the trauma it can cause. Our hearts and thoughts are with all children that have been affected by these horrible crimes.' Hoppe also said she worked for two years from 2000 for Virginia's Office of the Commonwealth Attorney as a victim-witness advocate, offering 'resources and referrals to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and violent crimes'. Additionally the mom was a formerly a volunteer at St Marks Memorial Church in Charlottesville, which is affiliated with her alma mater.
