Chevy Chase archaeological researcher, YouTuber faces 20 child pornography possession charges
‘Pillars of the Past’ creator Michael Raul Bilecky was initially arrested in February on nine counts of rape
By
Elia GriffinJuly 8, 2026 2:52 p.m.
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A Chevy Chase man who is being held in Montgomery County jail on multiple rape and assault charges is facing an additional 20 charges of possession of child pornography in connection with the case, according to online court records and his attorney, James Papirmeister.
Michael Raul Bilecky, 42, an archaeological researcher and explorer behind the “Pillars of the Past” YouTube show, was initially arrested Feb. 27 after his fiancé accused him of rape, according to Papirmeister. On June 24, Bilecky was charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography. According to court records, the alleged offenses occurred between Feb. 27 and March 11.
On Tuesday, Papirmeister told Bethesda Today that the child pornography charges are an “offshoot” of the main rape case against his client. According to Papirmeister, Bilecky’s fiancee of six years accused him of rape, and the case will go to trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in late October.
“The allegations are really distorted, really unfair and just completely injurious to Mr. Bilecky’s reputation,” Papirmeister said Tuesday, noting that he plans a “vigorous defense.”
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Charging documents for Bilecky have been sealed by the court, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. Regarding the alleged possession of child pornography, Papirmeister said Bilecky never possessed the materials, was in jail during the dates of the alleged possession and that Bilecky’s fiancee had full access to his electronic devices.
“That needs to be forensically evaluated,” Papirmeister said.
Bilecky was initially charged with nine counts of second-degree rape without consent, a felony charge, and nine counts of second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, according to court records.
In April, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office indicted Bilecky on seven counts of second-degree rape without consent in connection with the case, according to court records.
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Papirmeister said Tuesday that he did not want to disclose “sensitive” or embarrassing details about the case, but said the sexual activity in question was consensual and not rape. He added that the acts were videotaped, which was objected to by Bilecky’s fiancé.
“He is being portrayed as [a rapist], but it is grossly unfair,” Papirmeister said. According to Papirmeister, Bilecky and his fiancé had a “varied and adventurous sexual life.”
The trial for the case is set for Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, according to court records.
Papirmeister said he is frustrated that his client has not had a bond review hearing related to the rape charges since February, when a judge ordered Bilecky to be held without bond. Papirmeister said he filed a motion to review on June 22 and is waiting for a hearing to be set.
According to court records, on June 30 Montgomery County District Court Judge John Moffett set a $10,000 bail for Bilecky related to the child pornography case. Bilecky remains behind bars due to a Circuit Court judge’s ruling on his bond related to the rape case.
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Bilecky is a resident of the 4620 North Park condominium building in the Chevy Chase and Friendship Heights area, according to court records. Papirmeister said Bilecky and his fiancee do not have children together and had lived together since late 2025.
The charges are not the first time Bilecky has faced legal trouble. In 2017, Bilecky pleaded guilty to a federal charge of trafficking in circumvention devices related to a scheme in which he illegally sold computer software at below-market prices.
According to federal court filings, Bilecky was sentenced to five years of probation. In 2021, a federal judge granted Bilecky’s request for early termination of the probation.
In 2024, Bilecky launched Pillars of the Past, creating a platform to share his self-funded archaeological expeditions in Peru. During his expeditions, Bilecky explored ancient ruins and monuments, documented the looting of tombs and the destruction of archaeological sites and examined theories about ancient civilizations, according to his website and social media content.
His website states that his mission is to “document and protect ancient civilizations for future generations.” Bilecky chronicled his expeditions in videos shared on social media and YouTube.
Bilecky’s YouTube channel, which he has not posted a video to since February, has more than 80,000 subscribers. Some of the videos have received hundreds of thousands of views. In early February, Bilecky was a guest on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” where he discussed his findings from expeditions in Peru.
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine