A former Baltimore Police Department officer has entered a guilty plea to charges of first-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense. The conviction comes after a distressing incident involving a minor and has resulted in a 15-year sentence, with all but six years suspended. The former officer, Curlon Edward, will also be registered as a sex offender.
Details of the case, provided by the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, reveal that in 2024, Edwards, then 33, initiated a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old. The relationship, which began through an acquaintance, spanned nearly a year and culminated in an altercation that caused both physical harm and further sexual crimes.
According to a statement obtained by the Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City, the incident on June 30, 2025, began with consensual sexual conduct between Edwards and the victim at 118 N. Howard Street. Tensions rose when Edwards demanded the victim's phone, and a physical altercation ensued. Edwards applied a chokehold to the teen, resulting in loss of consciousness and visible neck injuries.
Upon the victim regaining consciousness, Edwards's conduct escalated. He handed his service weapon to her, demanding that she shoot him. The victim, terrified and feeling coerced, did not comply. Edwards then pressed for reconciliation, leading to another sexual encounter. Edwards subsequently took the victim to buy concealer for her injuries before returning her home. "We hope this outcome affirms the survivor’s courage in coming forward and reinforces that our office will stand with victims, pursue accountability, and work to ensure their voices are heard," State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates stated as he acknowledged the gravity of the abuse of power and voiced support for the victim.
The survivor promptly reported the ordeal to her mother and to law enforcement, submitting to a forensic exam shortly after. The cooperative efforts of the BPD’s Internal Affairs and Sex Crimes divisions were integral to bringing the case to a conclusion.
