Thu. Nov 21st, 2024

The U.S. District Courthouse in Greenbelt on Sept. 30. File photo by William J. Ford.

By Jessica Kronzer

The former mayor of University Park is facing dozens of charges after FBI investigators said they found 45,000 files depicting suspected child sexual abuse on his devices.

Joel Biermann, 46, was charged this week with 22 counts of possessing child sexual abuse images, along with several other related charges. Investigators said he produced, distributed and knowingly possessed images and videos of children being sexually abused.

Some of the allegations overlapped with his time as mayor of the Prince George’s County town, where he served from 2022 through June 2024, after he lost a bid for reelection.

When law enforcement searched his home Monday, they said they located electronic devices with tens of thousands of files containing abusive materials, according to charging documents. Some file names listed children’s race and age — the youngest listed was 2 — while other labels included rape, torture or bondage.

The content of those files showed naked children who were at times being sexually abused or raped by adults, charging documents said. Investigators also said they found a pair of boys underwear with a Spider-Man print and a blow-up doll with anatomy similar to that of a child.

FBI investigators said Biermann began messaging an unknown Facebook user in 2021 and paid the person to produce sexually explicit images of at least two young boys, who appeared to be around 11 years old at the time. The messages, to someone who lives outside the U.S., continued through December 2023, authorities said.

A subpoena of his Facebook account showed 4,500 messages between Biermann and the unknown person. Records from a payment app, from January 2023 to March 2024, showed Biermann paid the unknown suspect more than $800. One wire transfer was listed as being for the “camera and thongs.”

Biermann’s arrest was first reported by WTOP’s partners at 7News.

‘Serious charges’ for former mayor

Biermann served on the town’s council for two years before becoming mayor in June 2022. While running for reelection last May, his campaign website listed his “top priority” as “protecting our children.”

He lost a bid for reelection to Laurie Morrissey, who was sworn in as mayor in June 2024. A University Park spokesperson said Biermann has no official position with the town.

“These are serious charges, and the Town is ready to assist as requested,” the spokesperson said in an email to WTOP.

Last July, Biermann was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore to serve on the Maryland Veterans Home Commission, but he appeared to have been removed from the commission as of Thursday night.

In November 2023, the mayor of neighboring College Park was sentenced to 30 years in a separate child sexual abuse materials case.

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