Thursday, 15 September 2011 11:44

Culp Tagged Sexual Violent Predator

Written by  Edward L. Esposito
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A 43-year old Akron man tagged as a "sexually violent predator" by a Summit County jury.

Robert Culp labelled in a separate trial; he'd already been convicted of felony rape and kidnapping counts for raping a woman at knifepoint while his girlfriend was in another room.

Summit County Prosecutor - news release

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.

Edward L. Esposito

Edward L. Esposito

Edward "Ed" Esposito is vice-president, information media for the Rubber City Radio Group. He oversees news and public affairs programs for www.AkronNewsNow.com, 1590 WAKR, 97.5 WONE and 94.9 WQMX. He is Secretary-Treasurer of the Radio Television Digital News Foundation; a former chair of the Radio Television Digital News Association and Foundation and a former president of the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Association. He's also served as a member of the Akron Press Club , Kent State University Student Media Advisory Board, Ohio Open Government Coalition, Northeast Ohio AMBER Task Force. He's lectured on broadcasting and journalism for the University of Missouri in China, as well as across the country for RTDNA and RTDNF. You can reach Ed through the newsroom at 330-864-6397 or by email eesposito@rcrg.net

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