LA PLATA, Md.—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, April 2, 2026, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Tristan Thigpen, 40, to 18 years in prison for the Sexual Abuse of a Minor. On January 16, 2026, a Charles County jury convicted Thigpen of the aforementioned charge.
On February 3, 2021, a detective with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received a Child Protective Services Intake report from Prince George’s County. The report indicated an open investigation into allegations of sexual abuse occurring in Prince George’s County. During that investigation, the juvenile victim disclosed additional incidents of sexual abuse that occurred in Charles County.
A further investigation revealed that the juvenile and his family lived at a Waldorf residence from late 2015 through the end of 2016. During that time, Thigpen was one of the victim’s caregivers and had known the victim for several years.
Initially, Thigpen had physical contact with the victim that included massages on his shoulders and arms, tickling, and play-fighting. However, the physical touch escalated to Thigpen touching the victim’s genitals while alone with him, including at his Waldorf residence.
In December 2020, the victim disclosed the abuse to a family member. A police report was subsequently filed.
During sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Ed Stickles told the judge, “When determining a sentence, one of the factors that the court considers is rehabilitation. The defendant takes no accountability for these crimes, and without that there can be no rehabilitation. The vicious and heinous nature of the defendant’s conduct is the reason to go above sentencing guidelines.”.
Before sentencing Thigpen to 18 years in prison, the Honorable Judge H. James West told Thigpen, “The level of harm in this case is excessive and goes beyond the victim. In this world, you should leave children better off after being with you and that didn’t happen here. The verdict should have meaning, and the sentence should reflect that.”.
KARMA….