An elementary school librarian accused of spray painting 'Groomer' on 2 libraries during Pride has since been charged with possessing child sexual abuse material

• A former elementary school librarian was charged with possessing child sex abuse material this year.
• Charles Sutherland was arrested in June 2022 after authorities said he vandalized two libraries.
• Sutherland is accused of spray painting the word "Groomer" on the libraries during Pride week. 

A Maryland man accused of spray painting the word "Groomer" on the front doors of two local libraries last year has now been charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, according to court records. 

Charles Sutherland, 31, was first arrested in June 2022 on vandalism and hate crime charges after officials said he spray-painted the hot-button word on two county libraries during Capital Pride Week. The case is still ongoing, according to the state judiciary database.

An attorney for Sutherland did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. 

—PGPDNEWS (@PGPDNews) June 16, 2022

Sutherland was placed on administrative leave from his role as an elementary school librarian following his June arrest, according to WUSA, which obtained charging documents that reportedly say Sutherland admitted to spraying painting the libraries and allowed authorities to search his home.

While searching his residence, officers discovered diapers, children's dolls, and a child-sized doll in Sutherland's bed, WUSA reported; Sutherland told authorities he has no children, nieces, or nephews, and admitted he had child sexual abuse material on his computer, the outlet reported, citing court documents.

Authorities ran a digital forensics examination on his laptop in January of this year and discovered seven files of illegal material, WUSA reported. Court records show he is facing six counts related to the discovery. 

An investigation is ongoing. Sutherland is being held without bond, according to the state database, and is next set to appear in court on the child sex abuse charges in April and on the vandalism charges in August. 

Libraries have become the latest battleground in far-right activists' anti-gay disinformation campaign, as they face threats for refusing to remove LGBT material. Alt-right figureheads continue to lob accusations of "grooming" against queer people and their allies, falsely suggesting they are "pedophiles" who want to harm children.

The Anti-Defamation League called the narrative "false and malicious" and one that has been weaponized against the LGBT community. 

"The result of this widespread hateful rhetoric has been a spike in harassment, threats and violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community," the organization said last year. "This dangerous development increases the risks facing an already marginalized group by falsely accusing them of one of the vilest behaviors imaginable..."