Spring City Man Charged With Repeated Rape Of Teen In His Custody

SPRING CITY, PA — A Childline tip has lead to 25 charges of rape and other crimes against a Spring City man who police say repeatedly sexually abused a teen girl in his custody.

Michael Richardson, 58, of Spring City, is charged with 25 counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, endangering the welfare of a child, and related charges, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said today.

The charges stem from a Childline report in February 2021 of a 16-year old child victim who stated that she was raped and forced to perform sexual acts one to two days a week for over a year beginning in 2020. Chester County Detectives and Spring City Police followed up on the report.

According to the complaint, the child victim moved from Georgia, where she lived with her adoptive family, to Richardson’s two-bedroom apartment in Spring City in early 2020. Because there was only one bed, the victim told police she was forced to share it with Richardson, where she was sexually assaulted one to two times a week.

District Attorney Deb Ryan said, “This child was saved from further harm by a call to Childline, one of the county’s most effective tools against child sexual abuse. I commend the victim for having the fortitude to disclose what was happening to her inside that home. She is truly courageous. We will hold her abuser accountable under the law for his depraved acts.”

The report said Richardson also bought lingerie for the child victim and forced her to put it on before coming to bed. All the rooms had surveillance cameras except the bathroom and Richardson’s bedroom did not have a door, according to the D.A.'s report. Richardson allegedly used the cameras to watch the child victim sleeping or getting dressed.

The report said the accused took the child victim’s phone and other items away if she refused to have sex with him. The victim told police that when (she) asked what would happen if she told someone, the defendant shoved her and called her a psychopath.

The defendant is being held at Chester County Prison on $750,000 cash bail. His preliminary hearing is set for March 11.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866. Call Childline if you suspect child abuse: 610-344-5800.

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