25-Year Prison Sentence Given To Glen Burnie Man For Sexually Abusing a Boy

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A 61-year-old Glen Burnie man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison with all but 15 years suspended for sex abuse of a minor. Ronald Phelps entered an Alford plea on June 29, 2021. He was accused of sexually abusing the young boy and forcing him to smoke marijuana.

“This is truly a heartbreaking case,” State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said. “It’s disturbing that a family member would exploit the trust he had with the child and commit this abuse. It’s my hope that the victim continues to receive the support and resources required to overcome this devastating situation. Moreover, I hope that parents or parental figures continue to teach their children that no one has the right to touch their body and they have the right to say no. I am so grateful this young victim was able to tell a trusted family member and brought this abuse to an end.”

On May 31, 2020, Anne Arundel County Police Department received a report from a relative of the minor victim who told her that he was sexually abused by Ronald Phelps. The victim stated that Phelps instructed him to perform sexual acts on him which went on daily – and sometimes multiple times in the same day - for 1.5 years.

On June 2, 2020, the minor victim met with a forensic interviewer with the Department of Social Services and stated that Phelps abused him when he was in third and fourth grade, which was during the time he lived with the defendant in Glen Burnie. The minor victim added that Phelps forced him to smoke marijuana and put “green stuff” in a “circle thing with a wand and a hole at the end.” He said that the smoke caused him to cough and made it hard for him to breath.

If you know someone who is a victim of sexual abuse, please encourage them to tell someone or call the Sexual Assault Crisis Center and Hotline at 410-222-6800