WINDERMERE, Fla. — Edward Ringheim 031611 Edward Ringheim A man was arrested Tuesday night and charged with sexually molesting a 15-year-old boy, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
DOCUMENT (explicit) : Suspect's Arrest Report CRIME REPORTS: Map Crimes In Your Neighborhood
The Universal Studios employee and church youth group volunteer, 39-year-old Edward Ringheim, was arrested and booked into the Orange County jail and is being held on a $5,600 bond. He is facing five counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child between 12 and 15 years of age, according to an arrest report.
Ringheim is currently employed with Universal Studios Orlando, which released this statement: "We do not discuss ongoing police investigations. We take these matters seriously. He has been suspended."
Officials won't say if Ringheim had contact with children on the job.
Deputies said they began investigating Ringheim on March 7, when they were called to the boy's home by his mother. The boy told investigators that Ringheim, who is a family friend, molested him on four separate occasions when he was 12 years old.
According to documents, the boy described in detail the four alleged sexual encounters, which he said happened at Ringheim's house, in Ringheim's pickup truck, at a home in New Smyrna Beach and at the teen's home.
Investigators set up a phone call between the teen and Ringheim. Deputies said that, during the call, Ringheim apologized to the teen several times. The affidavit states that Ringheim told the boy that he "means the world" to him. The report also stated that Ringheim "hated that he abused that friendship."
Ringheim also told the boy that he was going to New Orleans for counseling and was trying to figure out why he had those feelings, investigators said.
During the call, deputies said Ringheim acknowledged specific details about their encounters. Investigators said that when the teen asked Ringheim if he was sorry for touching him, Ringheim replied, "Definitely, definitely, it was something that I didn't want to happen. It was never my goal or intention."
Ringheim also told the boy that there was another victim, but he didn't give a name, deputies said. The boy's mother told investigators that she was concerned there could be other victims, because Ringheim has been involved in several churches' youth programs.
WFTV also discovered that Ringheim volunteers as a counselor for several faith-based youth programs, such as K-life out of Windermere. Organizers there wouldn't comment.
Deputies said Ringheim, who is from Windermere, does not have an arrest history in Orange County and is not listed in state corrections records.
WFTV visited Ringheim's home in Windermere and spoke with his neighbors.
"That's really crazy to me. I had no idea," one neighbor said.
"Has he had any contact with your kids?" WFTV reporter Q.McCray asked another neighbor.
"No, but I thought he had boys. I thought he had boys visiting. I've seen kids over there," the neighbor replied.
Ringheim's affiliation with children brings up more concerns for neighbors.
"That is so unfortunate, because chances are there is potential for other victims," neighbor Andrew Cekun said.
That is also a concern for deputies. They want parents to ask their children about Ringheim, and to contact officers if they to have been a victim.
If Ringheim bonds out, deputies said he will be fitted with a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet.
WFTV
