MCPS Staffer Charged in Locker Room Recording Case Held Top SEIU 500 Leadership Role

April 17, 2026 – By Moderately MOCO

A Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff member charged with secretly recording students inside a school changing room also held multiple leadership roles within a prominent local labor union, connections that are now drawing additional scrutiny following his arrest.

According to reporting by the Banner MoCo, James Mulhern initially denied wrongdoing when questioned by police but later admitted to placing the recording device. Court records cited in that report state that Mulhern acknowledged having an inappropriate “attraction to multiple students while working at Walter Johnson High School.”

Mulhern, a media services technician at the school, has been charged following an investigation into recordings discovered earlier this month.

Longtime Union Leadership Role

Publicly available records indicate that Mulhern held a sustained leadership role within SEIU Local 500 for several years. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has served as “Vice President of Media & Technology” since June 2019, as part of the union’s Executive Board.

Archived records further show that as recently as July 2025, Mulhern was listed on the union’s Board of Directors as “Vice President of the MCPS Media & Technology Chapter” within the K-12 Division. The same archived materials indicate that in the union’s 2025 election cycle, Mulhern was listed as uncontested for the office of Secretary of SEIU Local 500 for the 2025–2027 term, a position he is also reflected as holding in other records.

Since news of his arrest became public, the union’s online board listing has been removed. A previously accessible page detailing leadership roles is no longer available, though archived versions confirm Mulhern’s position.

Public records further indicate that Mulhern received a stipend in connection with his board service.

Public Advocacy and Political Engagement

Mulhern was also publicly active in union-backed advocacy efforts.

In a now-deleted 2023 social media post from SEIU Local 500, he appeared in support of tax increases alongside other labor organizations and elected officials, including County Executive Marc Elrich and several members of the Montgomery County Council.

As recently as March 2026, Mulhern was quoted in a published opinion piece advocating for expanded labor rights in Maryland, including the right for public school employees to strike.

“The right to strike is a basic worker right… we deserve the same ability as other workers to stand together when our voices are ignored.”

School-Level Presence and Communication

Within Walter Johnson High School, Mulhern maintained a visible and active presence.

According to materials obtained by Moderately MOCO, Mulhern regularly communicated with the school community via email. In one such message, his signature line identified him as:

• Media Services Technician, Walter Johnson High School
• Elected SEIU Representative
• Secretary, SEIU Local 500
• Cohort Lead for Media Services Technicians, MCPS

Students and parents have indicated that these communications were frequent and widely distributed.

Questions Around Timeline and Oversight

While official charging documents focus on recent incidents, additional questions are emerging about how long the alleged conduct, or related concerning behavior, may have gone undetected.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation indicate that concerning behavior may date back as far as 2018 (or earlier). These accounts, gathered from more than one individual, have not been confirmed by law enforcement, but suggest a longer timeline that could become a focus of continued scrutiny.

At this stage, there is no official confirmation regarding how far back any recordings or related activity may extend.

As the investigation continues, questions remain about oversight, reporting mechanisms, and whether earlier warning signs may have been missed.

Union Response and Transparency Concerns

Moderately MOCO reached out to SEIU Local 500 for comment regarding Mulhern’s roles, compensation, and the removal of his information from public-facing materials.

As of publication, the union has not responded.

The removal of leadership records and lack of public comment have raised additional questions about transparency and internal response following the arrest.

Ongoing Coverage

This is a developing story. Additional reporting is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as more information becomes available.

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