DIRTBAG ROUNDUP: Maryland State Police Arrest Michael V. Culpepper for Online Sexual Solicitation Of A Minor, Three on Child Pornography Charges

Defendant Used Mobile Phones to Entice Two Victims – Including While on Bail Pending Charges Relating to the Incident

Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Vance Culpepper, age 56, of Walkersville, Maryland, pleaded guilty on August 21, 2024, to federal charges of coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to his guilty plea, in April and May 2023, Culpepper used mobile phones and online applications to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce two victims, whom he believed to be 13- and 14-year-old females, to engage in sexual activity. 

As to the first victim — an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old girl — Culpepper used the internet and his phones to exchange sexually explicit messages and request sexually explicit images.  Culpepper encouraged the victim to hide her conversations from her parents, writing, “you DEFINITELY need to delete these texts when we are done.”  On May 8, 2023, Culpepper drove approximately 50 miles to meet the victim at a restaurant in Hanover, Maryland. When he arrived, he was arrested.

After Culpepper was released on May 9, 2023, with the condition that he have no further contact with minors, Culpepper initiated online contact with Jane Doe 1, a 14-year-old female.  Culpepper used the internet to entice Jane Doe 1 to engage in sexually explicit conversations.  Culpepper also sent Jane Doe 1 sexually explicit photos of himself and requested that Jane Doe 1 produce nude images of herself and send them to him.  Culpepper arranged a meeting with Jane Doe 1 for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.  On May 28, 2023, Culpepper picked up Jane Doe 1 near her home and then drove her around for approximately one hour before stopping at a park.  Culpepper used ice cream, money, a hotel room, and vaping devices to entice Jane Doe 1 to engage in sexual contact.  Jane Doe refused, but following the meeting, Culpepper continued to use the internet to entice Jane Doe 4 to meet with him and engage in sex acts. 

Culpepper faces a maximum of life in federal prison and lifetime supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

 

HANOVER, MD – Maryland State Police, assisted by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, arrested a Frederick County man on May 8, 2023, on charges related to the online sexual solicitation of a minor.

Police identify the accused as Michael Vance Culpepper, 55 (DOB 10/23/1967) of 203 Oak Manor Way, Walkersville, Maryland. Culpepper is charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor. He was transported to the Maryland State Police Glen Burnie Barrack for processing.

According to a preliminary investigation, on April 13, 2023, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was conducting an undercover online investigation on a social networking site.

Police say that Culpepper was engaging in an inappropriate text chat with whom he believed was an underage female. Culpepper was engaging in conversation and requesting an in-person meeting with a member of the task force, who was posing as a 13-year-old girl.

The in-person meeting with whom he thought was a minor occurred yesterday afternoon in Anne Arundel County. Culpepper arrived at the agreed-upon location around 1 p.m., where Maryland State Police Trooper T. Cooke subsequently arrested him.

Court records show that Seth Russell Okin of Lutherville, Md, represents Culpepper. On May 9, 2023, Prince George’s District Court Senior Judge G. Richard Collins released Culpepper from the Anne Arundel County Jail on his personal recognizance without having to post a cash bond. A preliminary hearing is set for June 16, 2023.

Biden Administration Official Michael Culpepper was charged with lining up a date with a child for sex.

Somerset County Resident Daniel Alexander Elliott Busted on Child Porn

CRISFIELD, MD – Troopers arrested a Crisfield man on May 18, 2023, after an investigation developed evidence of possession and distribution of child pornography in Somerset County.

The suspect is identified as Daniel Alexander Elliott, 25 (DOB 02/24/1998), of 2899 Byrdtown Road Apt. B, Crisfield, Maryland.  Maryland State Trooper Daniel Townsend charged Elliott with 16 counts of possession and nine counts of distribution of child pornography. Troopers served an arrest warrant on Elliott and transported him to the Maryland State Police Princess Anne Barrack, where he was being held pending an initial appearance in front of a District Court Commissioner.

Beginning in May 2023, the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division Eastern Region initiated an investigation into the possession of child pornography. On May 17, 2022, troopers served a search warrant at the identified residence of the suspect. A preliminary forensic review of the suspect’s cellphone revealed numerous images of child pornography that were being distributed via social media. 

A bail bond hearing for Elliott was held on May 19, 2023, in Dorchester District Court, where he was ordered by District Court Judge Melvin J. Jews to be held in jail without bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for June 26, 2023, in Somerset District Court.  The charges are felonies, and the case will move on to Circuit Court.

The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Task force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children.

State Police Computer Crimes Unit Raids Home of Matthue Koontz; Charged Previously With Child Pornography in 2007

Koontz was charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography

ODENTON, MD – The Maryland State Police report that troopers arrested an Anne Arundel County man on Wednesday after a Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation developed evidence of possession of child pornography.

Police identify the suspect as Matthue R. Koontz, 38 (DOB 1/13.1985) of 317 Eagles Landing Court, Apt. G, Odenton, Maryland. Koontz was charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography and five counts of possession of child pornography. Koontz was transported to the Anne Arundel County Jail for processing.

Beginning in March 2023, the Maryland State Police say that the Computer Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into the possession of child pornography online. According to a preliminary investigation, investigators obtained media files of child pornography that were being allegedly being distributed online. Further investigations led to the identification of the suspect Koontz in Anne Arundel County.

At about 6:20 a.m. on May 17, 2023, members of the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with troopers from the Maryland State Police Glen Burnie Barrack, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI, served a search and seizure warrant at Koontz’s residence. A preliminary forensic review of his electronic devices seized at the scene revealed multiple child pornography files. Koontz was arrested at the scene. In 2007, Koontz was charged with child pornography possession and distribution by Baltimore County Police Officer S. Ruffino, and the charges didn’t result in a conviction, according to Maryland Court records.

Anne Arundel County District Administrative Judge Shaem C. P. Spencer granted Koontz bail in the amount of $5,000, which was posted, and he was released. Judge Spencer was appointed as an associate judge to the District Court in Anne Arundel County in September 2008 by then-Governor Martin O’Malley.

Attorney Andrew Clayton White of Baltimore is listed in court records as the attorney for Koontz. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 14, 2023.

Germantown Middle School Teacher Kevin Bremerman Given Probation Before Judgement in Plea Deal with Montgomery States Attorney McCarthy with Ten Counts of Possession of Child Pornography

GERMANTOWN, MD – Montgomery County Police reported on March 31, 2021. that Detectives from the Special Victims Investigations Division – Child Exploitation Unit arrested and charged Kevin Bremerman, 35 (DOB 6/25/1985) of 25341 Damascus Park Terrace in Damascus, Maryland with ten counts of possession of child pornography.

Bremerman was a middle school teacher at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown. These offenses do not involve students; however, investigators are concerned due to the nature of these offenses and Bremerman’s daily interactions with children.

Montgomery County States Attorney McCarthy allowed a plea deal to a single charge of possession of child pornography in Montgomery County Circuit Court on March 10, 2023, presided over by Circuit Court Judge David Lease.  No jail time was meted for the guilty plea and Bremerman was put on probation.

This investigation began in January of 2021 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from an instant messaging mobile app that a user of that app was possibly uploading child pornography. The user was determined to be residing in Montgomery County; the Montgomery County Police Department was notified and began an investigation.

During the investigation, Bremerman was identified as a suspect.

On March 29, 2021, investigators searched Bremerman’s residence on the strength of a search warrant and located numerous videos and photographs of child pornography on his cellular phone.

 Bremerman was arrested and transported to the Central Processing Unit.

Bremerman’s current teaching assignment is at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown. Bremerman was placed on administrative leave by the school system.

LETTER FROM SCHOOL TO PARENTS

Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff: I am writing to inform you about the arrest of Mr. Kevin Bremerman, a Roberto Clemente math teacher, on multiple charges related to possession of child pornography.

At this time, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD)does not believe that the pornography included any images or footage of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students. MCPS is fully cooperating with law enforcement on this matter.

Mr. Bremerman has been employed with MCPS since 2017. He has worked at Clemente since July 2020 and worked as a teacher at Goshen Elementary School from 2017 to 2020. He also worked for Bar-T and KidsCo between 2000 and 2015.

Mr. Bremerman has been placed on administrative leave. These charges are deeply troubling and are a violation of the core values of our school and school system. This behavior does not reflect the principles of MCPS or our community, and it will not be tolerated. We understand that students and staff will have questions and concerns about this arrest and may need to speak with someone to process their feelings in a safe space.

 Counseling staff will be available to connect with students virtually and in person once students return from spring break. A list of emails for our counselors and counseling support can be found at https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/clementems/staff/directory/#Counseling_Department.Students and families can also call 301-284-4750. If you or your child have any information that may be helpful to the investigation, I ask that you call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the Montgomery County Police Department at 240-773-5400. We know that speaking with your child about child abuse and neglect can be difficult. MCPS has compiled a list of resources to support students and families in this discussion. These resources are available at https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/childabuseandneglect/#resources.
Sincerely, Jeffrey T. Brown,
 Principal
 Roberto Clemente Middle School

The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services and by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Task force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children.