Baltimore County paramedic gets 25 years for contaminating workplace with bodily fluids

A Baltimore County paramedic was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison for masturbating and urinating on food and office equipment at county fire stations, crimes the judge called “perverted, repulsive and disgusting acts.”

Christopher M. Carroll, 36, pleaded guilty in August to three misdemeanor counts of causing another person to ingest his bodily fluids. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison sentence, followed by five years of probation.

Baltimore County Circuit Judge Dennis M. Robinson Jr. exceeded that recommendation, saying Carroll had shattered the camaraderie among his colleagues and violated the public’s trust. The judge also cited the number of people affected by the crimes, saying fire employees should not have to worry about their safety inside their own workplace.

“This case begs the question: Who does things like this?” Robinson said.

Before issuing his ruling, the judge heard victim impact statements from three fire department employees who worked alongside Carroll and described feelings of anger, humiliation and disgust. They said the paramedic’s conduct felt “deeply personal” because it occurred in places where first responders are supposed to feel protected.

Some described experiencing ongoing anxiety. Carroll, one victim said, “preyed on the very people who trust him most” and “chose to violate us for his own twisted gratification.”

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Carroll addressed the court Tuesday, pausing at times to compose himself and wipe his tears with a tissue. He said he still had no clear explanation for his conduct.

“I wanted to be some sort of porn star,” he said, acknowledging that he didn’t think through the consequences of his actions.

He said he regretted damaging his relationships with co-workers and apologized to his family, including his father, who observed the proceedings from the courtroom gallery. He also said he needed help and hoped to become a productive member of society again someday.

“I’m truly sorry to everyone who has been involved,” Carroll said. “I’m absolutely ashamed that I caused so much hurt.”

Carroll worked on the Fire Department’s quick response team, assisting people experiencing mental health crises and addiction. He is no longer employed by the department, spokesperson Kasey Thomas said in an email Wednesday.

“The sentencing brings much-needed accountability and should offer a sense of closure after a very difficult time for everyone affected,” Thomas wrote in a statement. “Our focus now is on moving forward and maintaining the integrity and professionalism that the community — as well as our members — expect and deserve.”

Carroll, who most recently lived in York County, Pennsylvania, was arrested in February on 23 misdemeanor counts related to alleged lewd conduct at public safety headquarters in Towson and a fire station in Pikesville. Prosecutors said Carroll filmed the acts and posted the videos to social media and subscription-based pornographic websites.

Carroll’s guilty plea related to three videos. One showed him urinating into an ice machine that more than a dozen employees subsequently used. Another showed him masturbating into a coffee creamer bottle that he then returned to a shared refrigerator. A third showed him ejaculating onto a female supervisor’s keyboard, near where she typically eats breakfast and lunch.

In all, investigators found 64 videos uploaded to Carroll’s account on the pornography site JustForFans, many of them filmed at work. Investigators tested items depicted in the videos and found they contained Carroll’s bodily fluids and DNA.

Carroll has been held without bond at the Baltimore County Detention Center since February. Amid an investigation into his conduct, the fire department initiated “hazmat cleaning” of all stations and offices, replaced ice machines and sanitized some vehicles.

“That is what this defendant brought to a community of people who only want to serve,” Deputy State’s Attorney Lisa Dever said during Tuesday’s hearing.

Defense attorney Seth Okin described Carroll, who has no prior criminal history, as a Christian, a former Boy Scout and a Maryland Army National Guard veteran who received “endless medals and honors.” Arguing for a lenient sentence, Okin said the stress of Carroll’s dissolving marriage and the trauma he witnessed on the job contributed to depression and anxiety around the time he committed the crimes.

“He has mental health issues,” Okin said. “It doesn’t serve as an excuse, but it does serve as a rationale.”

The three counts Carroll pleaded guilty to carried a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

As Robinson read his decision, Carroll sat with his head bowed, showing no visible reaction. In the gallery, about a dozen uniformed fire department employees watched in silence.

In a statement, Steve Redmer, president of the Baltimore County firefighters union, IAFF Local 1311, said Carroll’s conduct left a lasting impact on the department’s employees.

“I thank Judge Robinson for recognizing the profound impact of these crimes and imposing a sentence above the recommendation,” Redmer said. “Today’s 25-year sentence represents meaningful accountability for the harm inflicted on our members.”

He added, “While today’s sentence cannot undo what happened, I hope that today’s decision provides some measure of closure for those affected.”

Carroll’s appellate rights are limited because he pleaded guilty, Okin said in a text message. He is considering asking for a review from a three-judge panel, which could then reduce, uphold or increase the sentence.

“This was a very harsh sentence for someone who has mental health issues,” Okin wrote. “Jail will never heal that, or Christopher.”

This story has been updated to correct the length of the prison term prosecutors were seeking.