- The rumors surrounding ‘is Patrick Wojahn in jail’ have taken the internet by storm.
- The former college park mayor was arrested on 56 counts of possession and distribution of child p*rnography.
- A Prince George’s County District Court Judge on Monday, March 6, ordered gay former College Park, Md., Mayor Patrick Wojahn to be held in jail without bond.
The rumors surrounding ‘is Patrick Wojahn in jail’ have taken the internet by storm. The former college park mayor was arrested on 56 counts of possession and distribution of child p*rnography.
A Prince George’s County District Court Judge on Monday, March 6, ordered gay former College Park, Md., Mayor Patrick Wojahn to be held in jail without bond.
“His husband and mother were both in the courtroom and were crying and hugging after the decision was made,” Channel 9 reporter Evan Koslof reported in an online post.
The denial of the bond means Wojahn, 47, accused of possessing and distributing child p*rnography, must remain in custody until at least March 31, when he is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing related to the charges against him.
Wojahn’s arrest shocked LGBTQ activists and college park officials. According to the activists, Wojahn worked for LGBTQ rights for many years.
Wojahn resigned as mayor on March 2, hours before his arrest and two days after Prince George’s County Police Department investigators executed a search warrant at his College Park house.
Wojahn’s attorney defended him by saying his client was accused of possessing and viewing child p*rnography. None of the images in his possession show him engaging in s*xual activity with children.
In a statement released on the day of his arrest, police said they confiscated during the search multiple cell phones, a storage device, a tablet, and a computer, which contained evidence that Wojahn allegedly had downloaded at least 56 videos or still images of child p*rnography.
Specifically, he was charged with 40 counts of possessing child-exploitative material and 16 counts of distribution of child-exploitative material.
Maryland State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said these images create demand for explicit content and could lead to more victims.
Searching, downloading, and distributing pictures or videos of child abuse gives abusers the motive to attack and abuse more children.
The judge denied Wojahn’s bond following the prosecutor’s argument that, given these images, Wojahn would be a danger to children’s safety.
Individuals like Patrick Wojahn should not be allowed to roam freely as they pose a threat to the most innocent individuals in society.
In his letter of resignation, which College Park officials publicly released, Wojahn said he fully cooperated with police when they searched his home and planned to cooperate further.
