Richard Lee Hardwick III
Richard L. Hardwick, III, 25, was arrested early this morning on a charge of failure to appear, a level 6 felony. The charge stems from a November 2014 arrest on a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor, a level 4 felony.
Hardwick upon his release on Nov. 10, 2014, on his own recognizance, from his initial arrest, was given an initial hearing date of Nov. 20, 2014. He was formally charged at that time. While he appeared at this hearing, he was ordered to reappear for a pre-trial conference on Jan. 19, 2015, to appear in court. He failed to appear at that pre-trial conference, resulting in the failure to appear warrant.
Hardwick was initially arrested on Nov. 6, 2014, on a preliminary charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. The affidavit of probable cause, dated Nov. 14, 2014, states that on Nov. 5, 2014, the mother of a female under the age of 16, contacted police who stated her daughter told her she had sexual intercourse with Hardwick and that Hardwick knew the female was under the age of 16.
The victim told police she had skipped school on Nov. 4 and met with Hardwick. The two went to his Portland Street residence, going to a shed behind his home where he slept. Sexual intercourse took place at that time. Hardwick admitted having sexual intercourse with the juvenile and that he knew of her age.
He has also been arrested on a body attachment warrant. He is being held on no bond on the failure to appear charge, $25,000 surety on the original charge and $500 cash on the body attachment.