Police want to know if former school employee had sex with juveniles

Stephen Ridley

Former Conejo Valley Unified School District tutor Stephen Ridley, 33, of Beverly Hills was arrested Jan. 4 on a felony warrant on suspicion of engaging in illegal sexual acts with a juvenile.

Sheriff's deputies allegedly encountered Ridley parked in a vehicle with a 17-year-old girl on Pacific Coast Highway near Mugu Rock on Dec. 30. He was released from custody but charges were filed Jan. 4 after what a sheriff's department report described as an extensive investigation.

Ridley was said to have been involved in a relationship with the teenager for at least two years prior to his arrest, sheriff 's spokesman Capt. Ron Nelson said.

Ridley was employed by several school districts as a part-time band tutor and met the girl through his employment with Ventura Unified School District, the sheriff's report said. He's also worked for schools in Moorpark, Nelson said.

According to Conejo Unified School District, Ridley was hired in 2001 as a tutor and continued to be listed as a tutor with the district until last June. He was fingerprinted before being hired and given a background check as required by district policy. Nelson said Ridley has no known prior arrests on record in Ventura County.

Ridley posted $100,000 bail on Jan. 5 and was released early in the morning. He's expected to return to the Ventura County courthouse for arraignment in courtroom 12 at 9 a.m. Jan. 11.

Charges include alleged copulation with a juvenile and penetration with a foreign object.

Sheriff's detectives are seeking information about Ridley's possible involvement in other cases.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (805) 477-7000.

- Nancy Needham