Severna Park Man Charged on Child Sex Abuse Charges, Was Previously Charged in Similar Case Involving Student at an Alternative School Where He Worked

A Severna Park man has been arrested on child sex crimes nearly two years after he was accused of having inappropiate contact with a student at an alternative school where he worked. 

On April 9, 2020, Anne Arundel County Police officers were called to an address in reference to a juvenile who had been sexually abused. The parents of the victim became aware that their child was texting an adult male. The adult male was positively identified as Mark Anthony Thoms, a thirty nine year old male from the 300 block of Ritchie Highway in Severna Park. Upon speaking with their child, the parents learned their child was sexually abused by Thoms.

On April 15, 2020, the victim was transported by the victim's mother to the Child Advocacy Center to be interviewed with the assistance of a child abuse detective. During the interview, the victim disclosed there were numerous incidents during which the victim was sexually abused by Mark Thoms over the course of several months.

Working in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, an arrest warrant was obtained that same day for the suspect. Mark Thoms was charged with twelve crimes to include Third Degree Sex Offense, Fourth Degree Sex Offense, Sex Abuse of a Minor, Sexual Solicitation of a Minor and Second Degree Assault.  The Eastern District Tactical Patrol Detectives assisted and quickly apprehended the suspect on April 15, 2020 without incident.

Annapolis police obtained a warrant September 24, 2018 after a lengthy investigation, Thoms with the sexual abuse of a 13 year old student in an Annapolis apartment where the two were living together. At that time, Thoms was assigned to Mary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy in Annapolis, where the child at the center of the allegations went to school.  

Thoms offered to let the student move into his Annapolis apartment amid concerns of the child's behavior.  

After staying with Thoms for five months, the child told his father of incidents at the house in which Thoms assaulted him.   The child also said Thoms told him multiple times that he wanted “to sleep with” him and that he touched him inappropiately, according to court records.  In that case, Thoms was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, sexual solicitation of a minor and nine misdemeanor sexual assaults.

Prosecutors eventually downgraded the charges which were placed on stet docket on March 5, 2019.  Thoms was released from committment without serving any further time in that case.