1 week Ago By Carl Hessler Jr.
NORRISTOWN — A Hatfield Township man is facing a stint behind bars after he admitted to having indecent contact with an underage girl in Lansdale.Tigh Davi Richardson, 26, of the 1600 block of Forest Hills Drive, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to a misdemeanor charge of indecent assault without consent in connection with an April 2023 incident while he was visiting an East Main Street residence in Lansdale.At the time of the incident, Richardson was 24 and the girl was 15, according to court documents.
“He admitted that he touched the juvenile in this case without her consent, touched her private parts for his sexual gratification,” said Assistant District Attorney Bradley Walter Deckel, explaining the nature of Richardson’s admission.“This is a case where a juvenile was harmed, who was placed in a dangerous situation because of the defendant. He was the adult in the room and he should not have put her in that situation.
So, a period of incarceration is appropriate,” Deckel added.Under a plea agreement, Richardson will be sentenced later this year to 111⁄2 to 23 months in the county jail. Richardson will be under sex offender supervision while serving the sentence.
However, before Judge Wendy G. Rothstein can formally impose the sentence, Richardson must undergo an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets criteria to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those classified as predators face more stringent restrictions while on parole and probation, including mandatory counseling.
The judge also ordered that Richardson undergo a psychosexual evaluation.Richardson was permitted to remain free on bail pending his formal sentencing hearing. The judge said Richardson is prohibited from having contact with the victim and her family.
Richardson pleaded guilty shortly before jury selection was to begin for his trial.As a result of the guilty plea, Richardson also faces a 15-year requirement to report his address to state police in order to comply with the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, previously known as Megan’s Law.The investigation began after Lansdale police received a report from a 15-year-old girl that Richardson had indecent contact with her while he visited the girl’s residence on April 3, 2023.
The girl told authorities she was awakened in the middle of the night by Richardson touching her in an indecent manner without her consent, according to the criminal complaint filed by Lansdale Police Lieutenant Adrienne Gori.After the incident, Richardson and the victim communicated via text messages and she informed him that she was going to report his conduct to police. Richardson allegedly asked the girl not to contact police, adding, “I know I (expletive) up, please believe me.
”A relative of the victim also confronted Richardson about the incident and he allegedly admitted to what had occurred, according to the arrest affidavit.Other charges of aggravated indecent assault, corruption of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor are slated to be dismissed against Richardson at the time of sentencing.Defense lawyer James T.
Marsh represented Richardson during the court proceeding..
