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"

Despite recent protestations on the part of a few wealthy Americans who would have us believe that their current circumstances are somehow akin to the besiegement suffered by German Jews on Kristalnacht, it turns out that being wealthy in America can come in very handy—particularly for rich defendants convicted of raping their own infant child.

Meet Robert H. Richards IV—heir to the du Pont family fortune—who has beenconvicted in a Delaware court of raping his three-year old daughter.

As you try to settle your stomach in response to the realization that anyone could commit such a sickening offense, add to the broth that Mr. Richardswill not spend one day in jail for the heinous offense to which he has confessed.

When first indicted on two counts of second-degree child rape—the other charge involving the allegation that Richards also sexually assaulted his infant son—Richards was quickly released on $60,000 bail rather than being required to spend his time cooling his heels where most others being accused of such a disgusting crime would be found—inside a cold jail cell.

How many defendants, particularly with the kind of wealth available to Richards, would have not been considered a flight risk when facing such charges? How many defendants facing such charges would have been allowed to slip back into a society filled with unaware children and families, any of whom who could easily have become victims?

And yet, the court set bail at an amount that is but a pittance to an heir to the du Pont fortune.

Richards used his time and money well, hiring one of the top law firms in the state—a firm that successfully negotiated a deal where Mr. Richards pled guilty to one count of fourth-degree rape while admitting to the Court that he did, indeed, engage in sexual assaults on his children.

The distinction between a second degree and fourth degree count of child rape child is significant in Delaware. Conviction on a charge of second-degree rape brings a mandatory ten-year prison term for each count. Conviction on a fourth-degree charge carries no mandatory minimum sentence whatsoever.

Still, the sentencing judge certainly had the latitude to impose a prison sentence for Richards’ crime, even if was not a mandatory requirement.

Instead, Delaware Superior Court Judge Jan Jurden noted that Mr. Richards would “not fare well” in prison and that Richards would gain far more benefit by participating in a sex offender program than he would were he to go to prison.

Apparently, this judge was far less concerned about the relative benefits of the sentencing decision when it came to Richards’ children or any other children that might now be exposed to this pervert.

READ MORE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2014/03/31/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/