The ex-mayor of College Park, DC’s suburb, Patrick Wojahn has been sentenced to a 30-year jail term for child pornography offenses on Monday, November 20. Wojahn who pleaded guilty to 140 counts was initially sentenced to 150 years, however only 30 comprises of each count of distribution of child porn, 40 counts of possession of child pornography, and 40 counts of possession with intent to distribute.
Commenting on the case, the State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy stated, “Mr. Wojahn has pled guilty and accepted responsibility for his actions and these horrendous crimes…The tragedy of them being preyed upon in cases like this cannot be understated.” Braveboy also added that the sentence handed down was “fair” and emphasized on the seriousness of the offense considering Wojahn’s position as an ex-official.
The devastating news had residents in dismay as he had only recently taken office in 2015 and was relieved of duty in March 2021 after his arrest. Taking his place is the new mayor Dr. Fazlul Kabir who won in an election back in May. Given the circumstances, State’s Attorney publicly reassured families and parents of Prince George’s County. “I want families in Prince George’s County to rest assured, that we will continue to exhaust every possible effort to ensure their safety and well-being.”
Local police investigation began with a tip-off from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) who had reported about a suspect distributing child pornography in February this year. Fortunately, Wojahn’s arrest and conviction is an indicative of authorities’ commitment towards legislating such matters and ending this kind of menace in our society.
Braveboy also expressed her opinion, “The gravity of these offenses can’t be downplayed and it is only apt that harsh punishment should be served as a lesson and warning for others in the future.”
Wojahn’s case marks another scandal for the Democratic Party and has raised an outcry among the public about how such crimes need harsher punishment to prevent such misconducts in the future. Nevertheless, with the conviction of the former mayor, the society takes a step towards a child-friendly environment.