COLLEGE PARK, Md. (TCD) — The 47-year-old mayor of a college town was arrested this week after detectives found several videos and photos of child pornography.
According to the Prince George’s County Police Department, on Feb. 17, officials from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contacted the department about a social media account that allegedly distributed child pornographic material in January. Investigators learned the social media account was managed by Patrick Wojahn.
Prince George’s County Police detectives executed a search warrant Feb. 28 at Wojahn’s residence in College Park, home to the University of Maryland. Detectives reportedly recovered multiple cellphones, a tablet, a computer, and a storage device.
Wojahn was taken into custody Thursday, March 2, and charged with 40 counts of possession of child exploitative material and 16 counts of distribution of child exploitative material.
In a statement, the College Park City Council released a statement saying Wojahn resigned from his position as mayor of College Park late Wednesday night, effective immediately. He had been mayor since 2015 and a member of the city council since 2007.
In his resignation letter, Wojahn called serving as mayor a “profound honor.” He said he was in the midst of cooperating with a police investigation and his stepping down “is in the best interests of our community.”
Wojahn wrote he was “stepping away to deal with my own mental health” and asked for people to keep him and his family in their prayers.
The city council put out another statement March 2, saying members were “shocked and disturbed by the news; what has come to light in this investigation is a total surprise to us.”
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