Trial and sentencing of Robert H. Richards IV

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Robert H. Richards IV (born 1966/1967) is a convicted child rapist and great-grandson of chemical magnate Irénée du Pont and heir to the du Pont family fortune.[1]

Biography

Richards is the son of Robert H. Richards III and Mariana, daughter of Mariana DuPont Stillman.[2] He lives in Delaware, and owns three homes, located in Greenville and North Shores.[3] He married Tracy Richards, but they later divorced.[4]

Rape conviction and allegations

In 2009, he entered a guilty plea and was convicted of raping his 3-year-old daughter,[1][5][6][7][8][9] after the girl reported the abuse to her grandmother.[4] 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.[5][7][9][10] Delaware Public Defender Brendan J. O'Neill expressed surprise that Jurden would use such a rationale to avoid sending Richards to prison.[5][7]

In 2010, allegations were made that Richards had also molested his son beginning in December 2005 and continuing for two years.[1][6][4] Police and prosecutors investigated but did not find sufficient evidence to pursue charges.[6] Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden later defended the sentencing of Richards to probation, claiming there was a strong chance of the prosecution losing at trial making a plea bargain necessary.[11] Although Richards was ordered by Jurden to go through in-patient treatment at a Massachusetts facility, he has failed to do so.[12][11]

In 2014, Richards' former wife, Tracy Richards, filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the abuse of his daughter.[1][5][8][9][10] 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][6][4][8][9] These reports were provided to Jurden.[11] 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.[12] By the end of June 2014, it was reported that a sealed confidential settlement had been reached on the lawsuit.[13]

The case has caused questions to be raised if the wealthy receive unfair preference in the legal system,[7][14] and compared to Ethan Couch, whose "affluenza" defense famously earned him probation.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Conlon, Kevin; Gallman, Stephanie (2 April 2014). "Du Pont heir convicted of raping daughter spared prison". CNN. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ^ Polston, Nichelle. "Sexual Abuse Case Involving Du Pont Heir Resurfaces". Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  3. ^ Barrish, Cris (March 19, 2014). "Du Pont heir faces child sex lawsuit". The News Journal. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Staff (19 March 2014). "Lawsuit: Du Pont heir, convicted of rape, abused 2nd child". CBS News. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Barrish, Chris (2 April 2014). "Judge said du Pont heir 'will not fare well' in prison". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d Barrish, Chris (21 March 2014). "Police investigated du Pont sex abuse claim". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d 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.
  8. ^ a b c Andrews, Helena (31 March 2014). "Du Pont heir received no jail time after rape conviction". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d 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.
  10. ^ a b "Millionaire child rapist spared jail". The New Zealand Herald. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  11. ^ a b c Barrish, Chris (9 April 2014). "Du Pont heir didn't go to court-ordered clinic". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  12. ^ a b Fisher, James (30 April 2014). "Du Pont heir's lawsuit files stay open". The News-Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  13. ^ Barrish, Chris (28 June 2014). "Du Pont heir, ex-wife settle child sex abuse suit". The News Journal (Delaware). Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  14. ^ a b Williams, Mary Elizabeth (31 March 2014). "Did wealth keep a child molester out of jail?". Salon. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
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