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The teen girl moved from Georgia, where she lived with her adoptive family, to Michael Richardson's two-bedroom apartment in Spring City in early 2020, District Attorney Deb Ryan said.
Because there was only one bed, the girl was forced to share it with Richardson, where she was sexually assaulted one to two times a week, Ryan said.
Richardson also allegedly bought lingerie for the girl and forced her to put it on before coming to bed, Ryan said.
Richardson utilized surveillance cameras spread throughout the home to watch the girl while she was asleep or getting dressed, Ryan said.
All the rooms had surveillance cameras except the bathroom and Richardson's bedroom did not have a door, Ryan said.
It is alleged that Richardson took the girl's phone and other items away if she refused to have sex with him, Ryan said.
When asked what would happen if the girl told someone, Richardson allegedly shoved her and called her a psychopath, Ryan said.
Authorities were notified of the sexual abuse when the girl contacted Childline last month, to which she reported that she was routinely raped and forced to perform sexual acts, 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," Ryan said.
"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.”
Richardson 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 and Childline at (610)-344-5800 if child abuse is suspected.
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