In a grave decision reflecting the severity of his crimes, a Stone Mountain man has been sentenced to life without parole plus an additional 40 years for a harrowing 2020 rape and kidnapping incident. Michael Tish Mingo Richard, 45, was convicted by a jury on January 12 on multiple charges, including Rape, two counts of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, and Aggravated Assault, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.

The perpetrator of the violence, expected to spend the rest of his days behind bars, was sentenced on January 31 by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Parker-Smith. The attack took place on March 6, 2020, when Richard, an acquaintance of the victim through a former girlfriend, coerced his way into her apartment under the guise of seeking help for car trouble.

Upon gaining entry, Richard held the victim at knifepoint, binding her hands with zip ties before raping her. When the victim's mother arrived, Richard overpowered and tied her up as well. The assailant then forced both victims to withdraw cash from an ATM before absconding with the victim’s car. He was apprehended the next day in Savannah after being located by a license plate reader.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Paige Boorman, along with Senior Assistant District Attorney Allison Layton, led the prosecution of Richard's case. They were aided by District Attorney Investigator Andre Johnson and Victim Advocate Kiesha Rudolph. In her statement, Boorman highlighted the resolution of this case as a testament to the collaborative efforts of the DeKalb County Police Department and the District Attorney's office.

During the arrest made by law enforcement, Richard was armed with a knife and failed to comply with officers' orders, which resulted in him being tased. He was subsequently taken to a hospital and then to Chatham County Jail. Investigators found a note in Richard’s pocket expressing remorse for "the evil he brought" onto the victim, as detailed in reports from the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

Retired DeKalb County Police Department Detective John Dargon, who led the initial investigation, was instrumental in bringing this case to a close. The conviction serves as a chilling reminder of the brutalities that can occur even in everyday settings and the lengthy process of delivering justice to those who perpetrate such acts.