Update for Dec. 5
After pleading guilty in the beating of a 65-year-old West Seattle woman, Monty R. Richardson, 48, was sentenced to 34 months in prison on Dec. 2. in King County Court.
Although DNA evidence linked Richardson to the victim's home just across the street in the Fairmount Springs neighborhood, Richardson never admitted to the crime, saying, "I do not believe I am guilty of (first degree burglary and second degree assault)." He accepted guilt because he said he believed a jury would find him guilty based on the evidence.
A letter was sent out to Fairmount Springs neighbors after the attack questioning the conclusions made by investigators and raising the possibility Richardson was framed, but that information was never brought up in court.
Specifically, Richardson received a 34 month sentence for the burglary charge and 14 months for assault. Those sentences will be served concurrently, according to court records.
Richardson was ordered to stay away from the victim for the remainder of his life.
Original post on Nov. 22
The 48-year-old man accused of “brutally assaulting” a 65-year-old woman who lived across the street in West Seattle pleaded guilty to two of the three charges waged against him on Nov. 17.
The assault happened on May 7 on 41st Ave S.W. in the Fairmount Springs neighborhood. Court documents alleged Monty R. Richardson entered the woman’s home (she lived alone) using a spare key, dragged her to the basement and tied her up with duct tape before hitting and kicking her repeatedly and attempting to strangle her with power cords.
The victim was knocked unconscious in the attack and later came to with several broken bones, broken teeth and permanent hearing loss. She struggled out of her home in search of help and made it to her neighbor’s house across the street. It turned out she went to the Richardson's home. He was gone but his wife answered the door and called 911.
Using DNA evidence, Seattle Police detectives were able to positively link Richardson to the attack and he was charged on July 6.
According to court documents, Richardson pleaded guilty to first degree burglary and second degree assault in exchange for King County prosecutors dropping the unlawful imprisonment charge. He faces 26 to 34 months in jail for burglary and 12 to 14 months for assault.
While Richardson entered a guilty plea to the court, he was not willing to admit to committing the crime.
“I do not believe I am guilty of (the charges),” he wrote the court. “However, I am pleading guilty in order to take advantage of the state’s plea offer …I have reviewed the evidence against me … and I agree there is a substantial likelihood that I would be convicted of these charges at trial.”
Richardson is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 2 before King County Judge Heller.
