Monday, September 17, 2018

At the time of these offenses, Ridges was also a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) paraeducator and a coach for Springbrook High School Boys Junior Varsity Basketball team.

Man Charged with Inappropriate Touching and Sexual Exploitation of Juvenile Female
Posted on 09/17/2018

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged Thomas Henry Ridges, age 38, of Chase Terrace in Beltsville, Maryland, with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and a fourth-degree sexual offense related to his inappropriate touching of the juvenile female and his inappropriate sexual conversation with and proposition of the victim.

Ridges’ came into contact with the victim as his role as a Horizon Child Care, Inc. employee.  At the time of these offenses, Ridges was also a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) paraeducator and a coach for Springbrook High School Boys Junior Varsity Basketball team.

On September 5, detectives received information regarding possible sexual abuse of a minor.  Investigators determined that on July 20, Ridges offered to drive the 16-year-old victim home from the Horizon facility in Silver Spring.  The victim accepted the ride.  Ridges did not drive toward the victim’s home.  He began to ask the victim if she remembered a time when she was 14 years old and was at a local pool as a camper at Horizon’s summer camp program.  Ridges told the victim that he had touched her in a private area and that it was purposeful.  The victim had previously believed the touching was accidental.

As Ridges continued driving around, he attempted to engage the victim in a sexual conversation and posed inappropriate questions to include asking her about her previous sexual encounters, asking her about drinking alcohol (as her parked in front of a liquor store), and asking her to send naked photographs of herself to him via cell phone.  Ridges also propositioned the victim to engage in sexual acts with him during the car ride.

On September 14, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Ridges.  He was arrested on that day and transported to the Central Processing Unit. He has since been released on bond.

Detectives are requesting that parents of juveniles who attend Horizon Child Care, Inc. or who have had contact with Ridges to talk to their children about possible interactions with Ridges and contact SVID detectives at 240-773-5400 if they believe their child was victimized.


Thomas Henry Ridges

2 comments:

  1. So it's OK to work for MCPS if you have a prior Protective Order on file.

    Court System: District Court For Charles County - Family
    Location: Charles
    Case Number: 0402SP004192008
    Title:
    Case Type: Domestic Violence
    Filing Date: 04/17/2008
    Case Status: Closed
    Involved Parties Information
    Respondent
    Name: RIDGES, THOMAS HENRY



    Aliases
    Nickname: RIDGES, THOMAS HENRY
    Court Scheduling Information
    Event Type Event Date Event Time Court Location Court Room Result
    Hearing - Interim Order 04/17/2008 00:00:00 Conversion - Charles CONC
    Hearing - Final Order 04/18/2008 10:20:00 Conversion - Charles Courtroom 2 CONC
    Hearing - Temporary Order 04/18/2008 10:00:00 Conversion - Charles Courtroom 2 CAVA
    Document Information
    File Date: 04/17/2008Close Date:
    Filed By:
    Document Name: Petition
    Comment:
    File Date: 04/17/2008Close Date:
    Filed By:
    Document Name: Order
    Comment:
    File Date: 04/17/2008Close Date:
    Filed By:
    Document Name: Interim Protective Order
    Comment:
    File Date: 04/18/2008Close Date:
    Filed By:
    Document Name: Order
    Comment:
    File Date: 04/18/2008Close Date:
    Filed By:
    Document Name: Final Protective Order
    Comment:
    Service Information

    ReplyDelete
  2. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/parents/wellness/
    Develop an agreement with DHHS to make latex condoms and sexual health education available in all high school health rooms by October 1, 2018.

    ReplyDelete

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