A 43-year old Akron man is sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for kidnapping a woman and then raping her in his apartment.

Richard Culp of East South Street was found guilty by a jury last month of five counts of rape, with a repeat violent offender specification, and kidnapping with a sexual motivation specification.

The same jury deemed Culp a sexually violent predator in a separate trial.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Judy Hunter also designated Culp a tier three sex offender.                    

On December 12, 2010, Culp and his girlfriend asked a woman for a ride home. When they arrived at Culp’s apartment, he invited her 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 woman 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 woman's apartment in Medina.