Cambridge mayor charged with distributing sex images

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CAMBRIDGE, Md. — Mayor Andrew Bradshaw was arrested Monday on 50 misdemeanor counts of distributing intimate/sex images involving a former romantic partner, according to court records.

Mayor Bradshaw, 32, was ordered held without bond after the arrest warrant was served, court documents indicated. The dates of his alleged offenses were listed between April 3 and May 20.

A statement on the municipal government’s website Monday said city business will not be affected.

According to charging documents filed by the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor in Dorchester County Circuit Court, law enforcement was initially contacted by a female May 14. The woman said she had found photos of herself posted to the public website Reddit.

She was out of state when she learned of the photos, the documents stated.

The female said she wasn’t previously aware of their posting and did not agreed for them to be shared online.

The prosecutor’s office said the woman claimed that she “transmitted the posted photographs only to one other person, Andrew Bradshaw, that the photographs were sent when she and Bradshaw were in an intimate relationship, and that she did not provide Bradshaw with consent to re-distribute the photographs.”

She added that her romantic relationship with Mayor Bradshaw had ended prior to her contact with the police.

The photos were posted on multiple Reddit subforums that were identified with derogatory terms, according to documents, and a web address connected to the photos was traced to a residence where Mayor Bradshaw lived.

The 28-page filing also detailed content allegedly posted by Mayor Bradshaw, referencing sexually charged, vulgar captions and photos connected to the female.

The posts displayed “(the female’s) intimate parts exposed, with the intent to harm said person, with reckless disregard as to whether said person consented to the distribution and under circumstances in which the other person had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private,” in violation of Maryland law.

If convicted, Bradshaw could face up to two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, for each charge. He was released on his own recognizance later on Monday.

In August, Assistant City Attorney Patrick Thomas said, “We can confirm that a search-and-seizure warrant was executed at the mayor’s office in City Hall on the morning of Aug. 4 in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Maryland State Police and the Office of the State Prosecutor. The city intends to cooperate fully with the investigation.”

Also, according to neighbors at that time, several uniformed and plainclothes police officers were at Mayor Bradshaw’s residence from 6:30 a.m. until shortly after 9:30 a.m., as the mayor’s office was being searched.

At a meeting of Cambridge City Council on Aug. 9, the mayor made a brief statement as the session concluded, reading from prepared remarks:

“All I can say right now is that it was a personal matter. It does not involve city business. I am still the mayor of Cambridge. I work very hard for the people of Cambridge and I anticipate continuing to work very hard for the people of Cambridge. I love this city, and I love the changes that we’ve been able to make, and I love the direction that we’re going, and I anticipate that continuing forward. Thank you.”

The city of Cambridge’s full statement follows:

“Public Notice: The City is aware of the matter involving the Mayor. The City is currently gathering information and will cooperate fully with the Maryland State Police and the Office of the State Prosecutor. As the City has a Council-Manager form of municipal government whereby the City Manager serves as the chief executive officer of the City and the head of its administrative branch, the business of the City is unaffected. As this is an active legal matter, no further comments will be made at this time.”

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