West Chester University Former Hockey Player Charged With Rape

WEST CHESTER — A 21-year-old West Chester University junior is free on $100,000 bail Monday on charges that he raped a woman on campus in the 400 block of South High Street early Halloween morning.

Richard O. Mullineaux, of Newtown Square, Delaware County, was arraigned last Thursday before District Judge Marian T. Vito on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and related charges.

Police said they identified Mullineaux by matching a photo taken by the alleged victim on her phone to a photo on the university’s club ice hockey website.

Mullineaux is no longer a member of the club, according to West Chester University, Nancy Santos Gainer, assistant vice president for university communications and marketing.

Gainer said Monday that that a review of the matter is currently in progress by the Office of Student Conduct and will be aided upon receipt of appropriate court documents.

According to a prepared statement from the university:

“West Chester University is committed to maintaining an environment of teaching and learning where students are expected to be law-abiding citizens. Violations of local, state or federal law will absolutely not be tolerated.

“The university is committed to working with the authorities and, upon receipt of the appropriate court documents, takes action through the Office of Student Conduct.

“The university will always work to ensure an academic environment where its community feels safe.”

According to West Chester police:

A woman, whose name is being withheld by Patch, told police that at approximately 3:30 a.m. Oct. 31 she was raped in a house in the 400 block of South High Street by a man who told her his name was “Richie.”

The woman said the suspect grabbed her by the wrist and led her to an empty room.
The two began kissing and the suspect then asked her several time to have sex. She told police she said “no” multiple times, but eventually “gave in.”

The woman told police that she then asked him to “please stop,” but the suspect continued. The woman said she waited until the suspect was asleep and got ready to leave.

When she turned on the flashlight on her phone, she said, the suspect awoke and grabbed the phone, throwing it.
The victim provided police with a photo of the suspect from her phone.

Police said they matched the photo on the phone to Mullineaux.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month.