Zachary Richardson

KULM, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Kulm, N.D. teen charged with sexually assaulting a young boy this summer has now pleaded guilty.

18-year-old Zachary Richardson is charged with one count of felony gross sexual imposition.

Court documents say Richardson and the 4-year-old victim live in the same neighborhood, attend speech therapy together and are friends. On the evening of Aug. 4, documents say Richardson and the victim were playing in the victim’s bedroom with a ball. The victim’s mother told investigators the bedroom door was initially open while they played. The victim’s mother says around 8:30 that night, she heard her son yelling a word he uses to describe genitals. She says she saw that the bedroom door was closed, and says she heard Richardson tell her son to be quiet and something along the lines of ‘you’re going to be in trouble.’

The mother says she soon told Richardson to leave and once he did, the mother said she asked her son if Richardson had touched him. The victim told his mom that Richardson did touch his genitals and proceeded to show her how. Documents say the victim later went on to describe the assault in great detail with forensic investigators.

Court documents say when officers interviewed Richardson’s foster mom on Aug. 13., she told investigators that Richardson has had several assessments and placements into treatments for psychological and social disorders. She said many of Richardson’s therapists and social workers have said Richardson should not be in public alone. Documents say Richardson’s therapists said that Richardson would sexually offend young children if given the chance.

Richardson’s foster mom told officers she had taken away all of Richardson’s electronics as he was regularly engaging in sexual and pornographic sites.

Richardson will be sentenced on March 18th, 2021.