August 23, 2006
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

ORMOND BEACH MAN WANTED ON TWO COUNTS OF SEXUAL BATTERY 

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating an Ormond Beach man wanted on two counts of sexual battery against a victim under the age of 12. The Sheriff’s Office has had Thomas Baldridge under investigation since the allegations first surfaced in April. He’s accused of sexually battering a young boy numerous times over a five-year period, beginning when the victim was 3-years-old. The alleged assaults occurred at the defendant’s home between January 1998 and February 2003. 

On Monday, Sheriff’s investigator Jerry Betz obtained warrants signed by Circuit Court Judge Joseph Will calling for the 47-year-old Baldridge to be taken into custody on $200,000 bond. Investigators have been unable to locate Baldridge to serve the warrants and are seeking the public’s help in finding him. Baldridge is an approximately 6’1” white man who weighs about 175 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes.

 Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 254-1537. Those wishing to report information anonymously can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000 by calling Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS.