Setota Hailemariam
WMAL.com
Montgomery County Police have charged a man from Beltsville, Maryland with two counts of sexual abuse of a juvenile female and a fourth-degree sexual offense related to his propositioning and inappropriate touching of the victim, according to a Montgomery County Police Department press release.
Thomas Henry Ridges, 38, was a Horizon Child Care, Inc. employee at the time of these offenses, as well as a Montgomery County Public Schools paraeducator and a coach for the junior varsity boy’s basketball team at Springbrook High School.
On July 20, Ridges offered to drive the victim, 16, home from the Horizon Child Care facility in Silver Spring, Maryland. As Ridges drove, he engaged the victim in a sexual conversation, in which he asked her to remember a time when she was 14 years old and he had touched her inappropriately. He revealed that the touching was purposeful, as the victim previously thought it had been accidental.
During the car ride, Ridges also propositioned the minor to engage in sexual activity with him, the release said.
Ridges was arrested on September 14 but has since been released on bond.
Read the full press release here.
On September 17, Springbrook High School principal Dr. Arthur Williams released a letter to parents and guardians informing them of Ridges’ arrest. He has since been placed on administrative leave, the letter said.
Read the full letter here: ThomasRidges.pdf
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