Former Teacher Sexually Assaulted Students For Decades

A former Manassas high school teacher pled guilty Thursday to producing and possessing child pornography over a 17-year period, according to federal officials.

 Kevin Garfield Ricks, 50, of Federalsburg, Md., pled guilty to six counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. It was recommended as part of a plea agreement that he will be sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ricks will be formally sentenced on May 27, according to officials. 

Ricks began teaching at Osbourn High School in Manassas in 2007 and spending the weekends at his home in Federalsburg.

Two years later, Ricks engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a 16-year-old former student after getting the boy drunk with beer and approximately 10 shots of tequila.

 He was arrested in Feb. 2010 by the Manassas City Police and pled guilty to state charges of indecent liberties and received a sentence of five years with four suspended.

 “The initial investigation and arrest of Mr. Ricks by Manassas City Police uncovered additional evidence that led to identification of additional victims nationally and internationally,” said Manassas City Police Chief Keen. “With the cooperation of the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Manassas City Police Department; a joint investigation was opened. The outstanding work by all agencies has taken a career child predator off the street.”

Ricks admitted to engaging in illegal sexual contact with several juvenile males for  more than three decades and included students from Virginia to North Caroline and all the way to Japan.

His youngest victim was an 11-year-old boy and the oldest was 17, according to officials. In almost all of the incidents, Ricks admitted to using large amounts of alcohol to get the victims to pass out before engaging in the criminal acts.

 The case against Ricks was investigated by the FBI and Manassas City Police Department. 

 Information from: United States Attorney’s Office