Joseph Norman Jr., 30, of Mardela Springs, Wicomico County, Maryland, United States is accused of forcing a juvenile into oral sex multiple times. During one of the sex acts, he allegedly photographed the juvenile.

On January 23, 2023, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Norman’s residence in Mardela Springs for reports of a rape. Due to the nature of the crime, the deputies handed the case over to the Criminal Investigation Division, a division within the Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Norman was arrested and booked into the Wicomico County Detention Center in Salisbury, Wicomico County. He was released after posting the $5,000 unsecured bond.

On February 6, 2023,a grand jury in Wicomico County indicted Norman on 32 charges. The charges include sexually abusing a minor, sexual solicitation of a minor, filming of a child in a sex act, possession of child pornography and seven counts each of second-degree assault, second-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and fourth-degree sex offense.

On February 9, 2023, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) apprehended Norman. He was booked into the Wicomico County Detention Center again but this time without bond.

The CARFTF locates and apprehends the most violent and dangerous fugitives throughout not only Maryland but also Virginia, USA and Washington, D.C., USA. It is one of five congressionally funded national task forces hosted by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mardela Springs was incorporated in 1906. Europeans brought fur trading to the area around the town, which was home to indigenous tribes.

News anchor Erin Burnett, 46, was born and raised in Mardela Springs. She attended The Salisbury School in Salisbury before going to St. Andrew’s in Middletown, New Castle County, Delaware, USA and Williams College in Williamstown, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA.