UPDATED: Wicomico County Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor
UPDATED – 07/29/25 – A Wicomico County man has been sentenced for the sexual abuse of a minor. On Friday, Circuit Court for Wicomico County Judge S. James Sarbanes sentenced 65 year old James Thompson to life with all but 25 years in prison suspended. Thompson pleaded guilty to 1st degree rape on March 19th. If Thompson is ever released he will be subject to lifetime sexual offender supervision and will be required to register as a Tier III Sex Offender for life.
Court records show from 2021 through 2023 Thompson repeatedly raped the victim while the two lived in the same household. Thompson has admitted to having a sexual interest in children and has a prior conviction for 4th degree sexual offense in 2012 for sexually abusing a 6-year old child.
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ORIGINAL STORY – 04/18/24 – An investigation by the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center led to the criminal indictment of 64 year old James Thompson. Officials say the focus of the investigation was allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by Thompson over several years. Earlier this week a Wicomico County Grand Jury indicted Thompson on 228 offenses, including:
- Sex Abuse of a minor-House/Family Member
- Sex Abuse of a Minor
- Rape in the First Degree
- Rape in the Second Degree
- Sex Offense in the Second Degree
- Sex Offense in the Third Degree
- Sex Trafficking-Explicit Performance
- Sex Trafficking-Take/Cause
- Sexual Solicitation of a Minor
- Cause another to Engage in Sex Act-Threat
- Cause another to Engage in Sex Production-Threat
- Stalking
- Electronic Communication: Harass a Minor
- Telephone Misuse: Obscene
- Camera Surveillance of Private area with Prurient Intent
- Child Porn-Film in Sex Act
- Child Porn-Minor as Sex Subject
- Possession of Child Pornography
Thompson, who is already a registered sex offender, is being held without bond at the Wicomico County Detention Center. His initial appearance before the Circuit Court of Wicomico County is scheduled for May 10, 2024.