A retired CHP officer was arrested this morning after authorities said he posed as a teenage girl in order to strike up sexually charged online relationships with underage kids.

John Hofer, 53, was charged with possessing child porn, sending harmful material to a minor and contacting a child for sexual purposes, the L.A. County District Attorney's office announced:

Hofer retired from the CHP last year and last worked out of the Patrol's Torrance office, prosecutors said. According to a D.A.'s statement:

Hofer, who allegedly identified himself as a teenage girl, met an 11-year-old boy and a 15-yearold girl on Tagged.com.

He was arrested this morning and was expected to face $90,000 and a court date tomorrow, prosecutors said.

If Hofer is convicted he could face more than four years behind bars.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]