The former mayor of a small town in Maryland was arrested after the FBI found 45,000 images of sexual abuse involving children as young as two years old.
Law enforcement searched the home of University Park's former Mayor Joel Biermann on Monday to find tens of thousands of digital files depicting sexual abuse of children; some of the files were labeled with the children's race and age, with the youngest being just two years old, as well as explicit terms, including "rape," "torture," and "bondage," 7News reported.
The 46-year-old former mayor also exchanged thousands of Facebook messages with a person outside the US, asking them to create sexually explicit images with two boys police said were around 11 years old, according to 7News. He allegedly wanted naked images of the children and asked the boys to "take a shower" before the photos were taken.
Biermann reportedly transferred more than $800 to the person between January 2023 and March 2024, including one for "camera and thongs," according to WTOP.
Police also found a blow-up doll with a child's anatomy and Spiderman underwear for boys in Biermann's home office, according to charging documents obtained by WTOP.
He served as the town's mayor from 2022 until he lost re-election in July. While campaigning, he said his "top priority" was "protecting our children."
Biermann faces 28 charges related to child sexual abuse material and child pornography.
He is set to appear in court on Wednesday.
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