Prince George's County Police reported that Patrick Wojahn, the mayor of College Park, Maryland, was taken into custody on Thursday morning on charges of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The city issued a news release confirming that Wojahn, who is 47 years old, has resigned from his role as mayor, NBC Washington reported on the station's website.
"Last night, after business hours, Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn submitted his letter of resignation as Mayor of the City of College Park, effective immediately on March 2," the release said. "Mayor Wojahn has served in this position since 2015 and on Council since 2007."
#Breaking: College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn is being investigated for possession and distribution of child pornography after a search warrant was issued according to sources close to this investigation, he is now in police custody. pic.twitter.com/LyHfKjLA4D
— Tracee Wilkins (@TraceeWilkins) March 2, 2023
Prince George's County Police stated in a news release that on February 17, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified them about a suspicious social media account that was operating in the county.
"The image and videos," which the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children believed to be child sex abuse material, "had been uploaded to the social media account in January of 2023," the release said, according to NBC Washington. "Through various investigative techniques, PGPD investigators discovered the social media account belonged to Wojahn."
Police executed a search warrant at Wojahn's residence on Tuesday and discovered "multiple cell phones, a storage device, a tablet and a computer," according to the news release.
On Thursday morning, Wojahn was arrested and "charged with 40 counts of possession of child exploitative material and 16 counts of distribution of child exploitative material," police said. It is not known if Wojahn has legal representation at this time.
The City of College Park posted a link to Wojahn's resignation letter along with the official statement regarding his arrest.
"While this investigation does not involve any official city business of any kind, it is in the best interests of our community that I step aside and not serve as a distraction," Wojahn said in the letter, dated March 2.
Child exploitation is a serious issue in the United States, affecting millions of children each year. This can take many forms, including child labor, child sex trafficking, and child pornography.
Child labor involves the use of children for work that is inappropriate for their age or that is dangerous or exploitative. This can include work in agriculture, manufacturing, and domestic service. Children in these situations are often denied an education and are at risk of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Child sex trafficking is another form of exploitation that is particularly heinous. It involves the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of children for sexual purposes. This can occur through force, fraud, or coercion and can have devastating consequences for the children involved. They may suffer from physical and emotional abuse, and may be at risk of sexually transmitted infections and other health problems.
Child pornography is also a serious issue involving the creation, distribution, and possession of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. This perpetuates the exploitation of these children and can lead to long-term psychological trauma.
The United States government has taken steps to address these issues, including the passage of laws such as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
It's not clear how much jail time Wojahn could get if he's convicted, but it will be a lot.
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