NORTHAMPTON - A former acting chief probation officer for Hampshire Superior Court, who allegedly threatened a subordinate, is no longer being paid his annual salary of $73,170, according to the state's Probation Department.

Christopher Hoffman, 39, of Hatfield, was removed from his job with pay at the court in late October in connection with an ongoing federal probe into corrupt hiring practices in the state probation system.

He was taken off the payroll as of Dec. 21, the day he was arrested on obstruction of justice charges. Hoffman allegedly told a colleague he would expose her to others as a "rat" if she cooperated with the FBI.

Hoffman appeared in U.S. District Court in Worcester on the day of his arrest and was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond and on several conditions. He is barred from having contact with state Rep. Thomas Petrolati, D-Ludlow, or members of his family, former deputy probation commissioner William H. Burke III, also of Hatfield, and his family, as well as any current or former members of the state Probation Department, according to a court order.

A criminal complaint alleges that on Oct. 18 and 19, 2011, Hoffman made threatening and intimidating remarks to Maureen Adams, a probation officer under his supervision in Northampton.

Adams was to be interviewed by the FBI as part of its investigation into allegedly fraudulent hiring practices at the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. Federal prosecutors say Hoffman knew Adams was meeting with special agents and allegedly told her, "I will tell everyone that you are a rat," and "You will be in jail within a week," among other statements.

His attorney, Vincent A. Bonjiorni, of Springfield, has said Hoffman maintains his innocence.

Hoffman was named acting chief probation officer on Dec. 14, 2009. A permanent chief was never named due to a statewide hiring freeze. He faces one charge each of intimidating and harassing a witness in an attempt to obstruct a federal investigation.

Hoffman has yet to enter a plea, and is scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause hearing Jan. 24. He is the first person to be charged federally in relation to the probation department investigation, and faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 if convicted.

The Hampshire Superior Court Probation Department is being managed by Francine Ryan, a regional supervisor, according to Coria A. Holland, a Probation Department spokeswoman.

Ryan is among several probation officials who were involved in past hiring and who were questioned by Paul F. Ware Jr., a lawyer appointed by the state Supreme Judicial Court to investigate probation hiring practices.

A November 2010 report by Ware alleges patronage played a role in hiring and promotions within the department and that probation employees had a "pay for play" arrangement with elected officials, particularly Petrolati, who represents Ludlow and parts of Chicopee, Springfield and Belchertown.

Dan Crowley can be reached at dcrowley@gazettenet.com.