A Hardinsburg man will spend the next 40 years in prison after admitting he molested two of his own children, both under the age of 14, in a case that began when one of the victims confided in a school counselor. Michael Allen Richardson entered an open guilty plea to two Level 1 felony counts of child molestation, and a Washington County judge delivered the maximum sentence Wednesday, calling his conduct dishonorable and despicable.
Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt announced the plea following the sentencing hearing in Washington County Circuit Court, according to the Washington County Times. Circuit Court Judge Larry W. Medlock formally classified Richardson as a sex offender and violent offender against children, ordering lifetime sex offender registration and remarking that Richardson showed very little remorse. Court records show Richardson received 40 years on each molestation charge, with the sentences running concurrently, as reported by WDRB. Richardson's remaining charges were dismissed during the change-of-plea hearing.
A Third Alleged Victim Surfaces in Court
Courtroom testimony during the sentencing hearing disclosed that Richardson had molested a third child approximately 15 years earlier, though those allegations were never part of the criminal charges against him. The revelation came through victim statements that prompted emotional responses during the hearing, per the same account from the Washington County Times. Richardson, now in his 30s, was 31 years old at the time of a July 19, 2024 arrest reported by WDRB; his initial arrest occurred on May 14, 2024.
The case traces back to May 2024, when the Indiana State Police investigation began after one of the victims approached a Harrison County school counselor. That counselor immediately notified the Indiana Department of Child Services, as reported by The Republic News. Indiana State Police Detective Travis Baker worked with DCS Family Case Managers to conduct forensic interviews and execute search warrants, leading to Richardson's first arrest and an initial round of charges that included four counts of child molestation.
Digital Evidence Led to More Charges
A second investigation followed in July 2024, after allegations surfaced that Richardson had illegal sexual contact with a child, according to police. Search warrants executed on his residence and mobile devices turned up adult sexual items along with explicit digital images and videos of child exploitation, the Washington County Times reports. That evidence prompted prosecutors to file five additional counts of child exploitation while Richardson was already in custody.
The two criminal cases stemmed from separate Indiana State Police investigations that ultimately converged at sentencing. Richardson's arrest and prosecution followed the path built into Indiana law: Indiana law also addresses the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.
What the 40-Year Sentence Actually Means
Under Indiana Code § 35-50-2-4, Level 1 felony child molestation carries a fixed sentencing range of 20 to 40 years with an advisory sentence of 30 years, and courts cannot suspend any portion of the minimum 20-year sentence, per Justia Law. Because Level 1 felony convictions fall under Indiana's Credit Class B, Richardson will be required to serve at least 75 percent of his executed sentence — roughly 30 years — before he becomes eligible for release, according to sentencing credit guidelines analyzed by Banks & Brower. Good-time credit under that classification is limited to one day earned for every three days served.
Because the case involves a violent sex offense against children under 14, Indiana Code § 11-8-8-19 mandates lifetime sex offender registration once Richardson is eventually released, a designation Judge Medlock imposed at sentencing. Cases like Richardson's fit into the broader statewide issue of child abuse and neglect. According to Indiana's Child Welfare Improvement Committee, the Indiana Department of Child Services saw assessments substantiated from human trafficking increase from 76 in January 2024 to 111 in January 2025. According to the 2024 Indiana Code, Indiana's sex and violent offender registry must be updated at least once per day with information provided by local law enforcement authorities.
