“In the past 18 months, while incarcerated, I’ve been given time to look back and admit my failures to myself and to God, but no one else. And I’ve sought change to improve myself,” Richards said. “It’s hard to put into words, but the words of David in Psalm 51 [have] repeatedly been my prayers.”
Richards went on to read an extended passage from Psalm 51, which was written by the biblical figure David after David murdered Uriah, a soldier under his command. David did so to cover up that he had impregnated Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba.
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“So I stand here today to address the court, my community, kids and their parents who relied on me, most importantly my family, to ask for your forgiveness and grace, which is something I know I don’t deserve,” Richards said. “Again, I will live every day with that disgrace, but I hope to be like David. I choose to try to use my failures to continue to improve myself and then help those I have disgraced recover along with me.”
