Trial and sentencing of Robert H. Richards IV

Robert H. Richards IV is a convicted child molester and great-grandson of chemical magnate Irénée du Pont and heir to the du Pont family fortune.[1][2]

Biography

Richards, 48, is the son of Robert H. Richards III and Mariana, daughter of Mariana DuPont Stillman.[3] He lives in Delaware, and owns two homes, located in Greenville and North Shores.[4] He married Tracy Richards, but they divorced.[5]

Rape conviction and allegations

In 2009, he entered a guilty plea and was convicted of raping his 3-year-old daughter,[2][6][7][8][9][10] after the girl reported the abuse to her grandmother.[5] Instead of serving out his eight-year prison sentence, the sentencing order signed by Delaware Superior Court Judge Jan R. Jurden said that the "defendant will not fare well" in prison and thus the eight-year sentence was suspended.[6][8][10][11] Delaware Public Defender Brendan J. O'Neill expressed surprise that Jurden would use such a rationale to avoid sending Richards to prison.[6][8]

In 2010, allegations were made that Richards had also molested his son beginning in December 2005 and continuing for two years.[2][7][5] Police and prosecutors investigated but did not find sufficient evidence to pursue charges.[7] Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden later defended the sentencing of Richards to probation.[1][12] Although Richards was ordered by Jurden to go through in-patient treatment at a Massachusetts facility, he has failed to do so.[13][12]

In 2014, Richards' former wife, Tracy Richards, filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the abuse of his daughter.[1][2][6][9][10][11] The lawsuit also claims that the polygraph tests Richards took in April 2010 during his probation supported allegations that he had molested his son.[1][2][7][5][9][10] These reports were provided to Jurden.[12] In April 2014, Superior Court Judge Richard F. Stokes denied Richards' request to seal the court files, stating that the proceedings were open to the public and this was a First Amendment issue.[13] By the end of June 2014, it was reported that a sealed confidential settlement had been reached on the lawsuit.[14]

The case has caused questions to be raised if the wealthy are not suited to prison due to their wealth,[8][15] and compared to Ethan Couch, whose "affluenza" defense earned him probation also.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Beau Biden DEFENDS the judge who only gave a du Pont heir probation after admitting to sexually assaulting his three-year-old daughter". Daily Mail. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Conlon, Kevin; Gallman, Stephanie (2 April 2014). "Du Pont heir convicted of raping daughter spared prison". CNN. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Polston, Nichelle. "Sexual Abuse Case Involving Du Pont Heir Resurfaces". Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  4. ↑ Barrish, Cris (March 19, 2014). "Du Pont heir faces child sex lawsuit". The News Journal. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Staff (19 March 2014). "Lawsuit: Du Pont heir, convicted of rape, abused 2nd child". CBS News. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Barrish, Chris (2 April 2014). "Judge said du Pont heir 'will not fare well' in prison". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Barrish, Chris (21 March 2014). "Police investigated du Pont sex abuse claim". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Ungar, Rick (31 March 2014). "American Justice For The Wealthy-No Prison For du Pont Heir Convicted Of Sexually Molesting His Child Because He Would Not "Fare Well In Jail"". Forbes. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Andrews, Helena (31 March 2014). "Du Pont heir received no jail time after rape conviction". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Alter, Charlotte (31 March 2014). "Wealthy Child Rapist Given Probation As Judge Felt He Would 'Not Do Well' in Jail". Time. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Millionaire child rapist spared jail". The New Zealand Herald. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 Barrish, Chris (9 April 2014). "Du Pont heir didn't go to court-ordered clinic". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  13. 1 2 Fisher, James (30 April 2014). "Du Pont heir's lawsuit files stay open". The News-Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Barrish, Chris (28 June 2014). "Du Pont heir, ex-wife settle child sex abuse suit". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  15. 1 2 Williams, Mary Elizabeth (31 March 2014). "Did wealth keep a child molester out of jail?". Salon. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
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