NORFOLK - A former Navy sailor accused of attempted espionage has been ordered to be held without bond until his Dec. 19 arraignment.
A detention hearing for 39-year-old Robert Patrick Hoffman II was held at 3:00 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Norfolk Tuesday.
The judge ruled that because of the nature of the charges Hoffman poses a clear and present danger to the community and will not be allowed to go free.
Hoffman, who lives in Va. Beach, allegedly tried to deliver classified documents on the tracking of US submarines in October 2011 to someone he believed was a representative of the Russian Federation. That person was an FBI agent, authorities stated.
Hoffman was in the Navy for 20 years and retired in November 2011.
Hoffman is being defended by James Broccoletti and Keith Kimball, federal officials said.
