By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE, Md. — Former Mayor Andrew Bradshaw pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing intimate/sex images of a former girlfriend in Dorchester County Circuit Court on Monday.

Bradshaw was subsequently sentenced by Judge Thomas Ross to one year and one day of incarceration on each of the five counts, all suspended, plus three years’ supervised probation and $5,000 in fines.

He was ordered to comply with several conditions of probation, including paying restitution to the victim in the amount of $750 and performing 100 hours of community service.

Bradshaw had originally been charged with 50 counts of the offense, each of which carried a potential two years’ incarceration and a $5,000 fine.

According to the statement of facts accompanying the plea, a female complainant, identified as “Victim 1,” reported to law enforcement last year that she discovered nude photos of herself posted to the public website reddit.com. The victim informed law enforcement that she had taken and sent the images to only one person, Bradshaw, and that they were posted without her knowledge or consent.

She also advised authorities that the photos were transmitted to Bradshaw during a romantic relationship with him that had since ended, a statement from the Office of the State Prosecutor said.

Investigators said Bradshaw had made numerous public posts that contained at least 10 visual representations of Victim 1, with her intimate parts exposed, and that numerous posts contained language that was related to humiliation and degradation.
When interviewed, Bradshaw admitted to police that he created the Reddit accounts and posted Victim 1’s nude photos.

On Nov. 15, 2021, he was arrested on 50 misdemeanor counts of distributing intimate/sex images involving a former romantic partner, according to court records.

Three days after his arrest, the city’s commissioners were unanimous in a request for the mayor to resign. His lawyer said at the time that Bradshaw intended to continue serving the people of Cambridge.

On Dec. 2, the commissioners placed Bradshaw on a leave of absence, during which Commission President Lajan Cephas assumed the duties of mayor. On Dec. 13, proceedings by City Council to remove Bradshaw from office began.

He resigned Jan. 10 of this year. He stated his regret at the time, saying, “I apologize to the citizens of Cambridge for having to make this decision, to those who have businesses here, to those who work here and to all those who care about what becomes of this place.”

On Monday, state prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III said in a prepared statement, “Anyone who abuses the trust and confidence of another to degrade and humiliate them, particularly through the use of a forum as powerful and pervasive as the Internet, must be held accountable. Such actions are especially egregious when committed by an individual holding a public leadership role of power and authority.

“Our office is committed to seeking justice for victims of abuse and breach of both public and personal trust.”

The Office of the State Prosecutor acknowledged the exemplary work on this case by senior assistant state prosecutor Letam Duson and the Maryland State Police’s Criminal Enforcement Division and Cpl. John Wildman.