• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Maryland judge dies by suicide as feds moved in to arrest him for sexually exploiting boys

Jonathan Newell

Jonathan Newell (Maryland State archives via New York Post)

September 11, 2021
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

CAROLINE COUNTY, Md. — A Maryland judge accused of sexually exploiting young boys fatally shot himself just as federal agents arrived at his home to arrest him Friday morning, according to authorities.

The FBI arrived at the home of Jonathan Newell, 50, a Caroline County Circuit Court judge, to take him into custody on a criminal complaint charging him with sexual exploitation of a child for allegedly filming teenage boys in the nude at his hunting lodge, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Feds arrived at Newell’s home about 6:43 a.m. when they found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Maryland US Attorney’s Office.

Neighbors reported that the FBI demanded that Newell come outside with his hands up before they heard a gun shot.

The Maryland State Police “will lead the investigation into the apparent suicide,” according to federal prosecutors.

Earlier in the summer, Newell brought several boys on a hunting trip to Hoopers Island. One of the boys discovered a hidden camera in the bathroom and called his parents, which prompted the investigation. The judge had been on leave since July, according to court documents obtained by the Sun.

The allegations went beyond secret filming. At least two of the boys told investigators that Newell checked them for ticks when they were naked, the New York Post reported.

“One stated that he moved his own genitalia for Newell to look for ticks, and the other initially did not recall if Newell touched his genitalia, but later stated that Newell once or twice moved the minor’s genitalia to look for ticks,” FBI Special Agent Rachel Corn wrote in the complaint.

The parents of two boys retained attorneys, who issued a “no contact” request to Newell on Aug. 4. The letter cited, “information and belief … that [Newell] engaged in criminal conduct.”

It demanded that he stay away from the boys’ school and associated events, and warned that any contact will result in the parents contacting Maryland State Police for “potential witness tampering.”

Federal investigators uncovered corroborating evidence after searching Newell’s home, truck and law office earlier. They discovered a hard drive in his den that contained numerous videos of naked young men showering. Newell was captured on the footage setting the camera up and in one clip, could be seen searching a naked young man for ticks, the Sun reported.

Although Newell denied setting up the camera, agents said they caught him trying to destroy evidence by chewing up and swallowing a memory card when he was initially confronted with the allegations.

“The investigator heard a loud, distinguishable, ‘crunch,’ sound from the area of Newell’s mouth,” the FBI wrote in charging documents.

“After another minute or two, the investigator heard the same ‘crunch’ again from Newell’s mouth, followed by Newell immediately reaching for and drinking from a cup located on his dresser.”

Newell’s actions were followed by a forced trip to a medical facility for a CT scan. The procedure revealed a “foreign object” believed to be the missing memory card from the camera.

According to the Post, Newell had been a judge since 2016. Prior to sitting on the bench he had been a leading prosecutor in the county for more than a decade.

Newell’s defense attorneys issued a short statement to the Sun, saying: “Our hearts break for Judge Newell’s family, especially for his two sons with whom he was very close.”


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: FBIJonathan NewellMaryland judgemaryland state policesexual exploitation
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Robert Hanssen

Ex-FBI agent serving life sentence after spying for Russia found dead in prison cell

June 6, 2023
Transit Bureau Station

Partners Keeping Law Enforcement Informed

June 5, 2023
Nicholas Veerkamp

Registered sex offender receives 35-year prison sentence for sexually exploiting children

May 26, 2023
Steve Friend

Whistleblower: FBI manipulated J6 cases to make domestic terrorism appear widespread

May 19, 2023
Maryland State Police

Maryland State Police rescue kidnapped woman sitting nude in U-Haul truck involved in crash

May 15, 2023
Josiah Garcia

Member of Tennessee Air National Guard applies to be hitman on parody website

April 17, 2023
Load More

Latest Articles

14 year old killed by police had pellet gun

June 9, 2023

Video: Las Vegas police respond to report of ’10-foot creature’ in yard

June 9, 2023

Boston police officer shot

June 9, 2023
Natalie Martin (GoFundMe)

High school grad murdered during senior trip to Myrtle Beach, ex-boyfriend arrested

June 9, 2023
Baltimore officers ambushed

Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison stepping down

June 9, 2023
Casey White

Inmate who escaped with help from assistant director of corrections sentenced to life in prison

June 9, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com