Skittles and duct tape: Details emerge in case of man trying to have sex with child in Chester County

WEST CHESTER — The case against a Florida man who allegedly solicited sex from a 9-year-old Chester County girl began with a tip from a confidential informant who had worked with police in the past and was known to provide reliable information on criminal cases. .

It ended at a Phoenixville apartment complex with James Patrick Richards arrested carrying a Walgreens shopping bag containing raw ginger root, duct tape, lubricating jelly and a 9-ounce bag of Skittles candy for the girl, who didn’t exist but was a decoy designed by detectives to lure Richards.

On Tuesday, Chester County Prosecutor Chris de Barrena-Sarobe announced Richards’ arrest on charges of rape of a child, involuntary sexual intercourse, stalking, criminal use of a communications facility and criminal attempt.

A former Pennsylvania resident whose address in court records is Satellite Beach, Fla., Richards is being held in the Chester County Jail on $2 million bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing before Judicial District Judge James Kovaleski from Phoenixville on December 10.

Investigators are also seeking to identify a possible real victim of sexual assault by Richards, a 10-year-old girl whom Richards allegedly told the informant about and which led her to contact police.

According to an arrest affidavit for Chester County Detective Gerald Davis Jr. of the prosecutor’s child abuse unit, on Nov. 25 he was assigned to assist Phoenixville Detective Thomas Hyland , who had been in contact with a woman he knew during previous investigations. This woman told him about a possible rape of a child in Florida.

Both detectives interviewed the woman, whose name was not released, that day. She described an ongoing sexual relationship with Richards that lasted 10 years and included physical abuse and violent “role play” rape. The two communicated regularly, she said, and discussed rape, strangulation, servitude, child sexual assault and necrophilia.

She said she regularly met Richards and had sex with him when he traveled to Pennsylvania to visit family here or on business. The sexual relations she had with him were in exchange for money.

She was able to show investigators communications she had with Richards that day, in which he gave graphic descriptions of sex with a 10-year-old girl who was the daughter of a woman he paid for sex. sexual relations. He said he performed two sexual acts with the child, but when asked if he recorded the episode, he said no, although he apparently sent her a graphic photo that could include the child.

The woman said she contacted Hyland because she believed Richards was telling the truth about what happened, largely because of his previous discussions about the child.

She said she knew Richards had to go to Philadelphia the next day. When she contacted him again with Hyland and Davis listening, Richards again told the woman about his sexual relations with the child and said the girl’s mother was also involved.

In a scheme devised by detectives, the woman told Richards that another resident at her apartment complex had a young daughter and that the person might be willing to let Richards have sexual contact with them by exchange of money.

On Nov. 27, a Chester County detective posing as the mother of the imaginary 9-year-old girl received a text message purportedly from Richards, and they began talking about sex. At one point, the detective, acting as a mother, “indicated that she would be willing to do something similar with the 9-year-old” and Richards together.

Richards responded that he would teach the 9-year-old various sex acts and discussed having sex with the girl. When the detective agreed, Richards allegedly agreed to pay $300 for the meeting. The two arranged for Richards to come to the apartment complex on Nutt Road in Phoenixville on Nov. 30 between noon and 1 p.m.

In his text, Richard told the women he was thinking of communicating with: “You’re going to have to tell her that she can never tell anyone about this.” »

He arrived at the apartments at 12:47 p.m. in a blue 2021 BMX X3. He was carrying $300 in cash and the items the undercover detective had asked him to bring, including Skittles candy for the imaginary girl. When Richards arrived, he left his wallet and wedding ring in the car.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact Chester County detectives at 610-344-6866.

To contact editor Michael P. Rellahan, call 610-696-1544.

Originally published: December 4, 2024 at 10:57 a.m. EST