April 18, 2022: Andrew Bradshaw, Former Mayor of Cambridge, MD, Pleads Guilty to Five Counts of Distributing Revenge Porn
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced that Andrew Bradshaw, former Mayor of Cambridge, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in the Circuit Court for Dorchester County to five (5) counts of distributing revenge porn in violation of Maryland’s Revenge Porn Statue.
Mr. Bradshaw was subsequently sentenced by the Honorable Thomas Ross on each of the five counts to one year and one day of incarceration, all suspended, three years’ supervised probation, and a $1,000 fine. In total, Mr. Bradshaw was sentenced to five years and five days of incarceration, all suspended, three years’ supervised probation, and fines totaling $5,000. Mr. Bradshaw was also ordered to comply with several special conditions of probation, including paying restitution to the victim in the amount of $750 and performing 100 hours of community service.
According to the Statement of Facts accompanying the plea, a female complainant, identified as “Victim 1”, reported to law enforcement that she discovered nude photographs of herself posted to the public website REDDIT.com (“REDDIT”). The victim informed law enforcement that she had taken and sent the photographs to only one person, Mr. Andrew Bradshaw, and that they were posted without her knowledge or consent. She also advised law enforcement that the photographs were transmitted to Mr. Bradshaw during a romantic relationship with him that had since ended.
Investigators discovered that Mr. Bradshaw had made numerous separate public posts to specific subordinate Reddit (subReddit) accounts that contained at least 10 unique visual representations of Victim 1, with Victim 1’s intimate parts exposed, and that numerous posts contained language that was related to humiliation and degradation, including the below.
On April 12, 2021, Mr. Bradshaw posted a nude photograph of Victim 1 in a subReddit account titled “NeedySluts” with the caption, “Tell me how you’d use me;)” and in addition posted a nude photo of Victim 1 on a subReddit account titled “Slut” with the caption, “Tell me how you’d use me ;)”. On April 4, 2021, Mr. Bradshaw posted a nude photograph of Victim 1 in a subReddit account titled “Slut” with the caption, “He is risen, but I’d like to make something rise In your pants ;),” as well as posting the photograph on a subReddit account titled “DadWouldBeProud” with the caption, “He is risen, but I’d like to make something rise In your pants ;)”. On April 15, 2021, Mr. Bradshaw posted a nude photograph of Victim 1 in a subReddit account titled “Chubby” with the caption, “Ready to ride you”.
When interviewed, Mr. Bradshaw admitted to law enforcement agents that he created the REDDIT accounts and posted Victim 1’s nude photographs. Mr. Bradshaw subsequently resigned his position as Mayor.
“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,” said State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard, III. “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 would like to acknowledge the exemplary work on this case of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Letam Duson, Cpl. John Wildman of the Maryland State Police, and the Criminal Enforcement Division of the Maryland State Police.
A copy of the statement of facts read into the record at the April 18, 2022 hearing can be found HERE.