Newtown Square Man Charged With Rape At West Chester University

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — A Newtown Square man is charged with rape and related charges after authorities said he forced himself on a woman in October last year.

According to West Chester Police, Richard O. Mullineaux, 21, of Newtown Square is charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and related crime.

Authorities said Mullineaux raped a woman on campus in the 400 block of South High Street in the early morning hours of Halloween 2021.

A woman, whose name is being withheld by Patch, told police that at about 3:30 a.m. Oct. 31, 2021, 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 he grabbed her by the wrist and led her to an empty room.

The two began kissing, and the suspect then asked her several times 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 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 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.

"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," a statement from the university said. 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."

Mullineaux's preliminary hearing scheduled later this month.

Story by Holly Herman