LA PLATA, Md. — A former Prince George’s County police corporal received an 18-year prison sentence Thursday for sexually abusing a minor in Waldorf years earlier while serving as the child’s caregiver.
Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West handed down the sentence April 2, 2026, to Tristan Thigpen, 40, of Clinton following his conviction on sexual abuse of a minor. State’s Attorney Tony Covington announced the outcome.
A Charles County jury convicted Thigpen on Jan. 16, 2026, after a five-day trial. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years under Maryland law.
The case traces to February 3, 2021, when a Charles County Sheriff’s Office detective received a Child Protective Services intake report forwarded from Prince George’s County. That report stemmed from an open investigation into separate sexual abuse allegations in Prince George’s County. During that probe, the juvenile victim disclosed additional incidents that occurred in Charles County.
Investigators learned the victim and family lived in a Waldorf residence from late 2015 through the end of 2016. Thigpen, who had known the victim for several years, acted as one of the child’s caregivers during that period.
The abuse began with non-sexual physical contact including shoulder and arm massages, tickling and play-fighting. It later escalated to Thigpen touching the victim’s genitals while alone with the child, including inside the Waldorf home.
The victim disclosed the abuse to a family member in December 2020. A police report followed.
At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Ed Stickles addressed the court on the need for accountability. Stickles stated, “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.”
Judge West spoke directly to Thigpen before imposing the 18-year term. The judge said, “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.”
Thigpen previously worked as a corporal with the Prince George’s County Police Department since 2006, assigned to the Bureau of Patrol. He faced a separate 2020 indictment in Prince George’s County on charges including sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault, third-degree sex offense and fourth-degree sex offense. Those charges involved an April 1, 2020, incident with a young child he knew. At the time of that indictment, Thigpen was already suspended without pay following a 2018 DUI arrest in Nevada.
The Charles County case focused solely on the Waldorf incidents from 2015-2016. It remained separate from the unresolved Prince George’s County matters.
Southern Maryland law enforcement agencies often coordinate on child abuse cases that cross county lines, as seen here with evidence sharing between Charles and Prince George’s authorities. The conviction underscores ongoing efforts to protect minors from abuse by individuals in positions of trust.
Thigpen remained in custody pending sentencing. No additional details on parole eligibility or post-release requirements were released in the announcement.
This outcome concludes the Charles County prosecution that began after the victim’s disclosure prompted a formal investigation more than five years ago.
