The mayor of College Park, Maryland, Patrick Wojahn, has resigned after being arrested on child pornography charges. According to the Prince George’s County Police Department, Wojahn was arrested after investigators discovered that a social media account belonging to him had uploaded images and videos of suspected child pornography in January of 2023. Detectives later searched Wojahn’s home on Feb. 28, 2023, where they found multiple cell phones, a storage device, a tablet, and a computer.
Wojahn, who had been elected Chair of the National League of Cities’ 2023 University Communities Council in February, was charged with 40 counts of possession of child exploitative material and 16 counts of distribution of child exploitative material. He resigned from his position as mayor, effective immediately, and is in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
The City of College Park released a statement thanking Wojahn for his years of service and announcing that Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell would serve as presiding officer until a special election is held. The special election must be held within 65 days, as mandated by the City Charter.
In his resignation letter, Wojahn stated that he was resigning in the best interests of the community and to not serve as a distraction. He also mentioned that the investigation did not involve any official city business and that he was stepping away to deal with his mental health.
The investigation into Wojahn’s alleged actions remains open and active. Police have asked anyone with relevant information to contact them or Crime Solvers, a tip line for anonymous information.