MESSAGE FROM PROSECUTOR SHERRI BEVAN WALSH

Contact:  April Wiesner

(330) 643-8386

Culp Deemed Sexually Violent Predator

(September 15, 2011… Akron) … Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Richard Culp, 43, of E. South Street in Akron was deemed a sexually violent predator by a jury late yesterday after a trial on this issue. The same jury previously found him guilty of five counts of first-degree felony Rape with a repeat violent offender specification and one count of Kidnapping, a first-degree felony with a sexual motivation specification, on September 7. The sexually violent predator specification requires a separate trial before the same jury.

On December 12, 2010, Culp and his girlfriend asked the female victim for a ride home. When they arrived at Culp’s apartment, he invited the victim inside to see the trophies he claimed he won as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. Once inside the apartment, Culp threatened the victim with a knife and repeatedly raped her while his girlfriend remained in another room. In the morning, Culp announced that he would take the victim to work. She was able to escape before he could finish dressing. The victim called a friend who took her to the hospital.

Culp was arrested five days later hiding at another girl’s apartment in Medina.

Culp will be sentenced by Judge Judith Hunter on October 18 at 1:15 p.m. The sexually violent predator specification requires the judge to give consecutive maximum sentences for each sexually-based conviction, which means Culp faces at least 50 years to life.

-30-