Patrick Wojahn resigned from his post in College Park, Maryland shortly before being detained
The former mayor of College Park in the US state of Maryland, Patrick Wojahn, has been arrested on multiple charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. His detention came just hours after he submitted his resignation.
The Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) announced the developments Thursday. According to a statement, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children brought a suspicious social media account to the attention of state authorities on February 17. The whistleblower said the account “possessed and distributed alleged child pornography” which had been uploaded in January of this year.
The PGPD then used “various investigative techniques“to establish that the account”belonged to Wojahn.”
On Tuesday, detectives raided the 47-year-old official’s home, seizing “several mobile phones, a storage device, a tablet and a computer.“Criminal charges were then brought against Wojahn, who faces 40 counts of possession and 16 counts of distribution of”child exploitation material.”
Officials noted that the investigation is ongoing.
According to a statement released by College Park City Council, Wojahn submitted his letter of resignation.after hourslate Wednesday. Officials thanked him for his “dedicated departmentin his role as mayor since 2015, and on council since 2007.
In his resignation letter, also made public, the ex-mayor insists that he has “fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.“Wojahn Said He Was”walking away to take care of my own sanity,“ask former colleagues to keep him and his family”In [their] prayers.”
Wojahn’s former colleagues described the news of his arrest as a “total surprise,“adding that any residents who feel distressed by the developments are encouraged to”seek any help they deem necessary to get through this difficult time.”
Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell will hold office until an election is held.
College Park is a city of just over 34,000 people and home to the campus of the University of Maryland.
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