Prosecutor: 'A.M. Rapist' won't get out of prison

The victims of Stephen D. Richardson, a former Arlington Heights resident dubbed the "A.M. Rapist" in San Diego, can take solace that he likely will never get out of prison, Elizabeth McClutchey, deputy district attorney for San Diego County, said Monday.

Richardson, 34, who also had been accused of raping an Arlington Heights woman in 2003, was sentenced Friday to 75 years to life in prison for raping five California women while they were asleep in their beds in 2000 and 2001.

Richardson was in San Diego serving in the U.S. Navy when the five forcible rapes occurred in San Diego neighborhoods during the late evening or early morning hours, hence the moniker.

Richardson was married at the time of his arrest in August 2009. He moved to Arlington Heights in May 2009, and lived in other area suburbs for about six years.

"Under California law he has to serve close to 64 years before he is first eligible for parole," McClutchey said. "We calculated that he will be close to 98 years old at that time. And the expectation is he will never be released."

McClutchey said some victims read impact statements at the Friday sentencing and were happy with Richardson's prison term. She said she also left a message Monday for the Arlington Heights victim.

"He obviously is a dangerous man so it's nice to know that he will never be getting out," she said.

Richardson also spoke at his sentencing saying what he did to his victims has haunted him over the years, according to media reports.

Arlington Heights police have said they won't pursue charges against Richardson for the 2003 rape, to which he was linked through DNA, and would only revisit the case if Richardson was paroled or released for any reason. Officials could not be reached for comment Monday.