A Casper man faces charges alleging he kidnapped and sexually exploited a young girl who lived near his home.

Police arrested Aaron W. Ridley, 24, on Monday after responding to a report by the girl's mother that a man had grabbed her daughter and made the girl touch his genitals, according to a police affidavit.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Ridley with kidnapping, sexual exploitation of a child, indecent liberties and possession of controlled substance. If convicted, he faces the possibility of more than 47 years behind bars.

He remained in custody Monday evening at the Natrona County Detention Center.

Just before 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a neighborhood in the Paradise Valley area based on the mother's call. She told authorities the suspect lived on her street and was currently at home.

Inside that home, officers found Ridley sitting in a recliner, according to police. He appeared intoxicated and under the influence of drugs. Ridley was taken to Wyoming Medical Center and later booked into the county jail.

In the affidavit, the girl told a detective what allegedly happened:

The girl said she had dropped off some mail at a mailbox when a man approached her, said he was looking for his dog and asked to walk with her. She agreed and they had just begun walking when he asked her to go inside a home.

Once inside the home, the man asked her to touch his genitals. The girl screamed and ran out the front door. The man chased her and tore her coat, she said.

Police took the coat and the girl's shoes as evidence.

A neighbor who lived on the same street as the girl told police he heard a girl screaming and saw her run to a house and tell a woman he assumed was her mother about the alleged incident, according to the affidavit.

Tuesday afternoon, Ridley made his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court, where Judge Michael Patchen set his bond at $75,000.

Prosecutors had asked for a $100,000 bond, citing the age of the alleged victim. Casper attorney Frank Chapman, who represented Ridley at the court appearance, called that amount excessive, given his client's lack of criminal history.

Ridley, wearing an orange jail uniform and shackled at the hands and feet, spoke only to answer procedural questions. He told the court he had grown up in Casper and recently moved back after living in Denver.

Ridley's next court appearance should take place in the next few weeks, when a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for his case to move forward.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.

Keep your kids safe

* Teach children to be aware of their surroundings.

* Teach children to get out of a situation and tell a trusted adult if the situation feels wrong or seems odd.

* Children should always check with a parent or trusted adult before going anywhere or getting into a car with anyone.

* Older children, ages 11 to 17, are equally at risk of becoming victims of crimes.

Sources: Casper police Sgt. Mark Trimble, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

* Teach children to be aware of their surroundings.

* Teach children to get out of a situation and tell a trusted adult if the situation feels wrong or seems odd.

* Children should always check with a parent or trusted adult before going anywhere or getting into a car with anyone.

* Older children, ages 11 to 17, are equally at risk of becoming victims of crimes.

Sources: Casper police Sgt. Mark Trimble, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.]]>