Former Coach, School Worker Sentenced For Sexual Abuse Of Child

SILVER SPRING, MD — A former coach in Montgomery County Public Schools, who also worked at a child-care facility, has been sentenced for sexual abuse of a child. Thomas Henry Ridges, 39, was originally charged with having inappropriate sexual contact with a girl, once when she was 14 years old and again two years later. Ridges worked at Horizon Child Care in Silver Spring and coached the Springbrook High School boys' junior varsity basketball team about the time of the incident.

Ridges was arrested Sept. 17, 2018, on two charges of sexual abuse of a minor and a fourth-degree sexual offense charge related to inappropriate touching and conversation with a juvenile female. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of inappropriately touching a teenage girl during a summer school program in 2016, according to court records.

This week a Montgomery County judge sentenced Ridges to six months in jail, Bethesda Magazine reported. He must also as a sex offender for life.

Ridges had worked at Burnt Mills Elementary School from 2005 to 2007, Francis Scott Key Middle School from 2006 to 2007 and at Springbrook High School since 2007, Bethesda Magazine reports. He no longer works for the school system or Horizon Child Care.

Police say Ridges first met the victim at Horizon Child Care. On July 20, 2018, Ridges allegedly offered the 16-year-old girl a ride home from the Horizon facility in Silver Spring. Ridges did not take her home, police said, but instead drove around while asking the girl inappropriate questions, including that three years earlier he had touched her in a private area during the camp and that it was purposeful. The victim originally believed the touching was accidental.

Authorities said Ridges asked the girl inappropriate questions about her previous sexual encounters and whether or not she drank alcohol while he parked in front of a liquor store. He also asked her to send naked photographs of herself to him via phone and propositioned the victim to engage in sexual acts with him during the car ride, police said.

Parents who believe their child has been victimized are asked to contact Special Victims Investigations Division detectives at 240-773-5400.