자유게시판

• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Patrick Wojahn, a former mayor of faculty Park in Prince George’s County, was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 140 costs associated to youngster pornography.

The sentence, handed down at an emotional, hours-lengthy hearing in Prince George’s Circuit Court, was a part of a deal between Wojahn and prosecutors that was accepted by Judge Karen Mason, who commended the former mayor for taking possession of the harm he had caused.

"I do sense the remorsefulness," she mentioned. "And I do know you are taking responsibility." Under Maryland regulation, Wojahn might be eligible for parole in 7½ years.

The choose heard hours of sufferer influence statements learn by prosecutors, in addition to declarations of assist from sixteen individuals in the courtroom who spoke about Wojahn’s historical past of public service, before asserting the sentence. She cited Wojahn’s own past as a victim of sexual abuse, which he only recently shared with his household, as one cause she was referring him to the Patuxent Institution, a treatment-oriented most-safety prison in Maryland.

College Park mayor resigns and faces little one pornography costs

Since Wojahn, 48, was first arrested earlier this yr on allegations he possessed and distributed photos and movies depicting explicit youngster sex abuse - including the rape of prepubescent boys by adults - the close-knit College Park neighborhood and its former mayor’s regional community have been parsing by a sequence of complicated emotions: Shock at the nature of the crimes. Confusion that Wojahn, a beloved public servant, would commit them. Anger over the implications he would - or wouldn't - face.

Before police began investigating him, Wojahn had been mayor of faculty Park, residence to the University of Maryland’s flagship campus, for seven years and had served on town Council for eight years before that. He graduated from Georgetown University Law School and was an avid cyclist and staunch LGBTQ advocate - becoming a member of a lawsuit in opposition to the state of Maryland alongside his now-husband to make marriage a legal proper for all within the state.

As an elected official, he advocated environmental and social justice points in College Park, supported individuals with disabilities, and worked to unite the campus and town.

But in court docket Monday, prosecutors said Wojahn had led a "double life," his lengthy historical past of public good starkly contradicting his personal conduct, which police said began in January, when Wojahn uploaded and shared dozens of photographs and movies depicting baby sex abuse to social media apps.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children knowledgeable Prince George’s County police of the social media exercise in mid-February, and 10 days later investigators obtained a warrant to search Wojahn’s College Park dwelling. He waived his right to remain silent and informed authorities that a Kik account that had posted the express content was his, police stated in court docket paperwork. Additional pictures were later discovered on the social media app Telegram.

Police also mentioned that Wojahn "advised that he has seen and possessed files depicting baby pornography," in line with court papers.

Wojahn was first indicted by a grand jury in March on eighty counts of possessing and intent to distribute youngster pornography, which have been increased to 140 counts in a superseding indictment in May, in line with on-line courtroom data. In August, he pleaded guilty to all 140 counts: 60 of distribution of child pornography, forty of possession of youngster pornography and forty of possessing youngster pornography with the intent to distribute.

Former College Park mayor pleads responsible to little one porn costs

In court Monday, prosecutors Jessica Garth and Monica Meyers asked the judge to contemplate the impression Wojahn’s choices had on every baby victimized within the tons of of pictures and movies he possessed and shared. About 52 of those youngsters have been identified by legislation enforcement officials in collaboration with the Justice Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Prosecutors read the small print of their instances, of the abuse they endured and the lifelong impression it has had on their emotional and physical health. Written statements from these victims - some of whom are actually adults - were shared with the court, as well as testimonies from their parents and guardians. They shared their struggles with excessive anxiety, paranoia, poor sleep, trust points and a sense of security. Some said that individuals who know them from their on-line exploitation stalk them in real life. One lady, now married and with her own youngsters, stated she was pressured to maneuver and shut down her social media after her identity was found.

Nearly all the victims mentioned they really feel re-victimized, as if their abuse have been occurring over again, every time they be taught somebody new has considered the explicit pictures taken of them as children.

"This is just not a victimless crime," Meyers stated.

When Wojahn’s supporters started to talk, he pivoted in his seat to face them. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit from the Calvert County jail, the place he has been held since his arrest, he wept via all sixteen speeches - rising essentially the most emotional as his mother, sister and husband spoke. Many who addressed the choose on his behalf did so in an try and get his prison time decreased. All of them acknowledged he ought to face accountability for his crimes, but urged the judge to give attention to a path that centered on healing, not simply punishment. They accused prosecutors of asking for a a lot larger sentence than what others who did the same or worse in Prince George’s County have faced.

Before he was sentenced to a complete of a hundred and fifty years, with all but 30 years suspended, Wojahn stood and publicly addressed the charges in opposition to him for the first time.

He apologized to the youngsters who have been sexually abused: "I know I contributed to that, and I’m deeply, deeply sorry … I acknowledge the damage I have prompted." He apologized to the College Park group: "I wish to be the particular person they know me to be." He apologized to his household, turning to his husband, who moments before had affirmed his love for Wojahn: "I love you, too, very a lot."

He mentioned he didn’t understand how he’d gotten right here, listing off a collection of life stressors and traumas that may have triggered an addiction inside him - together with his personal childhood sex abuse, the current loss of life of his father and the chronic stress of his job. "None of this stuff excuses or justifies the things I've achieved," he said.

If you beloved this short article and you would like to receive a lot more data regarding lovingeli kindly go to the web site.