The former mayor of the university park accused of possession of child sexual abuse materials

UNIVERSITY PARK, Md. (AP) — A former University Park mayor has been charged with 28 counts of child sexual abuse material after authorities raided his home Monday, according to local news reports.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the investigation by state and federal authorities began while Joel Biermann, 46, was still mayor of the small town in Prince George’s County. His successor took office in June after city elections.

Biermann is accused of exchanging inappropriate messages on Facebook in which he was “observed to have solicited sexually explicit material of minor boys” between January 2021 and December 2023, according to charging documents.

Biermann was ordered held without bail in the Prince George’s County Detention Center on Wednesday, according to court records, which say he is being represented by a public defender. An email seeking comment was sent to the Maryland Public Defender’s Office.

The former mayor of neighboring College Park pleaded guilty last year to more than 100 charges related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.