DOVER — After a one-week trial, a Kent County jury last week convicted a Magnolia man of 77 felony offenses in connection with the serial sexual abuse of two juveniles, ages 8 and 14, the Delaware Department of Justice said Tuesday.
Richard Haines, 59, faces a 462-year minimum mandatory sentence and will be required to register as a Tier III sex offender.
Haines was convicted of multiple counts of second- and fourth-degree rape, first-degree and second-degree sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust, first- and second-degree unlawful sexual contact, continuous sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, along with single counts of first-degree attempted rape and first-degree attempted sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust.
According to Attorney General Kathy Jennings, in late 2020, the victims’ mother discovered Haines sexually abusing her 8-year-old and called the police. Investigators discovered that, over the course of many months, Haines repeatedly sexually abused not only the 8-year-old but also a 14-year-old sibling.
The abuse happened on a weekly — and sometimes daily — basis while their mother was at work, Ms. Jennings said. Haines would use the sexual abuse as punishment if they did not do what he demanded, she said.
The jury returned its verdict March 1. Deputy Attorney General Erik Towne secured the conviction with support from DOJ social worker Rebecca Scott, following an investigation led by Delaware State Police Detective Ryan Wright.
