Mistrial declared in case vs. ex-teacher

ALFRED – A Superior Court judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case against a former Sanford teacher who was charged with improperly touching an 11-year-old girl.

Justice Thomas Humphrey said Christopher Ridge, 38, will not be tried again. Ridge, who waived his right to a jury trial, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault, which is punishable by up to a year in jail.

The judge declared a mistrial after the alleged victim was unable to continue her testimony in York County Superior Court.

Assistant District Attorney Bernard Broder told Humphrey it would be imprudent to compel the testimony of Kayla Sherman, who was a student in Ridge’s fifth-grade class. The girl broke down in tears following testimony a day earlier, prompting the judge to adjourn until Thursday.

Outside the courthouse after the trial ended, Ridge said the case “has ruined my reputation as a teacher. What can I do about it now?”

The prosecution and defense had agreed the alleged touching was neither violent nor sexual.

Ridge’s lawyer, William Wilson, said Wednesday that Sherman’s testimony conflicted with statements she made to the Sanford school committee last year. Wilson also said the girl acknowledged no one saw the alleged touching.

Jeffrey Langholtz, attorney for the student and her stepfather Carl Demers, said after the trial that the case had been difficult for Sherman.

“For a young girl to continue on a cross-examination like this is too upsetting. She wants to put this behind her to move on,” Langholtz said.

After the mistrial was declared, Demers said his stepdaughter “is very upset. She’s devastated. She was upset about the defense attorney badgering her. She’s been through enough.”