Student Sexually Abused By School Staffer: Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A student support worker at an alternative school in Annapolis is in jail on multiple counts of sexually abusing a child, Annapolis Police say. Mark Thoms, 38, of Severna Park, who worked for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools during the time of the abuse, is in custody. According to the website for Mary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy, Thoms was a support worker at the building, which serves grades six through nine.

In April 2018, the Department of Social Services received a report of child sexual abuse. The Annapolis Police Department Criminal Investigations Section worked with the Department of Social Services to investigate the complaint. The victim reported being sexually abused on several occasions between November 2017 and March 2018 in an Annapolis home by Thoms.

Detectives conducted interviews and worked with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office to obtain an arrest warrant for Thoms. He turned himself in to the Annapolis Police Department on Oct. 9.

When school district officials learned of the allegations against Thoms in April, he was transferred to a job in the district’s central office, district spokesman Bob Mosier told the Capital-Gazette. Thoms has been on administrative leave since June, Mosier said.

Thoms is charged with sexual abuse of a minor, sexual solicitation of a minor, three counts of fourth-degree sexual offense as a person in a position of authority, three county of fourth-degree sexual offense-sexual contact, and three counts of second-degree assault. He is being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center without bond.

Investigators urge any other victims or anyone with information on the allegations to contact detectives at 410-260-3439. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP or the Annapolis Police Department Tip Line at 410-280-CLUE.

Submitting Anonymous Tips to Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland

If your tip leads to the arrest or indictment of a person for a felony you could qualify for up to a $2,000 cash reward from Metro Crime Stoppers. You can submit a tip by calling 1-866-756-2587, visiting www.metrocrimestoppers.org, or through the P3 Tips smartphone app, whic can be found in the Apple or Android app stores by searching for P3 Tips.

Photo of Mark Thoms courtesy of Annapolis Police Department