Former Mayor Sentenced In Child Porn Case Involving Thousands Of Images Including Infants

COLLEGE PARK, MD — College Park's former mayor has been sentenced in connection to his involvement in distributing child pornography, including images of infants.

Patrick Wojahn, 48, had served as mayor of College Park since 2015 until his resignation and arrest in March 2023. In February, authorities began investigating Wojahn after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography being distributed by someone in Prince George’s County.

In August, Wojahn pleaded guilty to 60 counts for distribution of child pornography, 40 counts for possession of child pornography and 40 counts for possession with the intent to distribute child pornography.

In handing down the sentence, the judge cited the horrific nature of the offenses. The judge remarked on the irreparable harm inflicted upon the victims, underscoring the need for a sentence that reflects punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation.

Wojahn was sentenced to 150 years in prison, suspended all but 30. He also must register as a sex offender for 25 years.

Wojahn apologized in court for his actions and the damage that he caused. He doesn't know why he went down a “very dark and dangerous and destructive path,” he said.

His attorney, David Moyse, told The Baltimore Banner it was a "matter of mental health and addiction."

Wojahn's husband, Dave Kolesar, told The Baltimore Banner that the former mayor was "under incredible pressure to accept a plea agreement."

Kolesar said his husband recently disclosed that he experienced abuse as a child and declared that the sentence "sends a horrible message to other survivors."

“In spite of everything, I continue to look up to him,” Kolesar said. “To my husband, I want to say I love you.”

But State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy had a different outlook on the case. Among the images officials say Wojahn circulated was one of an adult who was sexually abused more than 20 years ago. Another image was of a victim who self-medicated after being abused and eventually died of an overdose, The Baltimore Banner reported.

“By distributing these horrific videos and images of children, some as young as infants, Mr. Wojahn has contributed to lifelong victimization of the innocent,” Braveboy said. “Moving forward, our office will continue to pursue stiff penalties and seek justice for our youngest victims. I want to thank the Prince George’s County Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Internet Crimes Action Task Force and Assistant State’s Attorneys Jessica Garth and Monica Myers for their dedicated work on this case.”

Prosecutors said in court that law enforcement knew the names of 52 children who were found on Wojahn's cell phone. They were victims of sexual abuse in the U.S. and around the world. But there were thousands more children investigators couldn't identify.

“Even though the victim is separated from the person who is abusing them by a computer screen, they exist,” Assistant State’s Attorneys Jessica Garth, who is chief of the Special Victims and Family Violence Unit in the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, said at a news conference. “They’re real people.”