A Juneau man who served time for throwing an ax at his wife may be headed back to prison.
Todd E. Richards, 48, admitted Monday he violated parole, and is slated to be sentenced today in Juneau Superior Court.
Richards was found guilty of third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief in the fourth degree in July of 2009. Court documents show the Juneau Police Department received a call from his wife she was assaulted by Richards, and when she attempted to flee the residence, he followed her outside. When she tried to leave in her car, Richards threw an ax through the vehicle’s windshield, “barely missing (her) head.”
The pair is still married, but separated.
The woman fled to an area downtown and contacted JPD, an affidavit indicates. JPD later confirmed the windshield was broken and an ax was laying on the front passenger’s seat.
Other court documents describe Richards being in a “drunken state” at the time of that incident.
He was sentenced to 24 months with 12 suspended for the assault, and 12 months with six suspended for criminal mischief of damaging property. The time to serve was concurrent, and the time suspended was consecutive.
Richards was released to probation supervision in December of 2010 for a duration of three years, and went missing for about four months this year after he didn’t report to the probation office, according to a petition to revoke probation.
A bench warrant was out for his arrest, but defense attorney Eric Hedland said in court Richards turned himself in in September. He is currently in prison and is being held on a $5,000 cash performance bond.
A judge is scheduled to decide today in a disposition hearing if he will have probation revoked.
Court documents show Richards has a lengthy criminal history that involves domestic assault, restraining orders, five or more misdemeanors and criminal trespass.
• Editor's note: This article has been changed to show Richards and his wife are separated, not divorced. Also, Richards' priors include five or more misdemeanors, not misconducts involving a controlled substance.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (28)
Add commentCareer criminal
Throw away the key.
The Ex Ax!
He hasn't attacked anyone since 2009. He only missed probation reports--sounds like he was gillnetting all summer. Let him go!!
assault
In regards to a very serious assault and/or repeted assaults, such as the one in this article; part of the sentencing, on a one on one basis and upon investigation, could include requiring the offender to move from the city or state in which one has committed a grievous assault or repeted asssaults upon a victim.
In a domestic violence case, if the couple are working with a counsellor to repair the relationship; it would need to be determined, if it is viable for the offender to remain or leave the city or state. Does the assult have a co-contributor or is it onesided
I would rather spend tax dollars to interupt the abuser's rampage by buying a oneway ticket instead of continuing to house the abuser at LCC, with all the amenities.
If the abuser is not a risk to the victim; require testing and counselling, as a part of sentencing, to break the cycle.
Analyze who and what is filling up the space at LCC and what can be done to make it a viable CORRECTIONAL facility, while the criminals are in custody, before they get out. No doubt, even the laws of the land need to be recrutinized.
There is not a one shoe fits all for any crime. As a community we are not mandated to tolerate nor support crimals among us nor act as co-dependants by coddling criminals. Either get rid of them or try to restore them. Languishing, just doing jail time, is not the answer for all things. Reach and teach or open a penal colony out the Chain.
menace to society, melt the
menace to society, melt the key and leave him rot.
The Shining?
Chasing your wife with an axe? Reminds me of a movie. Possesed by demons or not, this guy needs to be locked up. Some alcohol in the system and this guys becomes a monster, lock him up.
ax man come on guys.
If you say things about someone maybe you need to get the whole story behind it. I know for a fact that this man has issues but so does his not ex wife. They are still married. And the night that the ax ended up in her car she hit him with the car. She was also drunk driving he was not the only one that was drinking. Those two would fight all the time. I tried to tell him not to marry her. It takes two people to fight and when they are drinking on top of it they should both be arrested not just one. She would beat the crap out of him and get away with it. So get all the story before you judge anyone.
Two sides
There usually is two sides, but throwing an axe? And throwing it hard enough to go thru the windshield? (if the story is correct). Thats some serious alcohol-fueled violence. Was there a vehicular assault charge filed against the female?
No charges on her
When she hit him with the car he flew over the top of it. Then dropping the axe it was not as if he throw it at her. But most of the time the blame is always but on the man. Which is very unfair. I have seen her throw glass ashtrays at his face. She was not miss perfect in no means.
Are you kidding?
Snagger - really? He hasn't attacked anyone since 2009? With an apparant "lengthy history" of domestic violence it is only a matter of time until he attacks again (which is to say he just hasn't been caught or reported since 2009 - and it sounds like he was in jail for the better part of that time anyways) He knowingly violated his parole...and you say "let him go"???
It doesn't matter who hit who first, or whether it was fueled by a substance - hitting or otherwise abusing another human being is absolutely not acceptable (for either sex). It doesn't even matter if (the standard pathetic excuse) "she asked for it" or "she was just as guilty" - he's the one that got prosecuted, found guilty and sentenced. Period. Do the crime....do the time.
He does not deserve his freedom. Throw him back in jail for an exteneded period and throw in some anger management counseling too....like that would even help. If he hasn't learned his lesson by now....who believes that he ever will.
parker1967
If only you knew half the story but you do not you only know what the juneau empire writes. He has never been in jail for drugs and has never had a case concerning drugs. Where do they get their information at a cracker jacks box.
parker1967
If only you knew half the story but you do not you only know what the juneau empire writes. He has never been in jail for drugs and has never had a case concerning drugs. Where do they get their information at a cracker jacks box.
parker1967
If only you knew half the story but you do not you only know what the juneau empire writes. He has never been in jail for drugs and has never had a case concerning drugs. Where do they get their information at a cracker jacks box.
Just sad
In cases like this, it is sad for the family/friends. There are people who are real Jekyll and Hydes when it comes to alcohol. Too bad they're unable to give it up.
I like the first sentence
A Juneau man who served time for throwing an ax at his now-ex wife may be headed back to prison.
"throwing an ax", "ex-wife" and "be headed" all in the same sentence! Classic!
He did not throw the axe. it
He did not throw the axe. it is still his wife and he did not behead her.
wow scary
wow scary I would not want a ax thrown at me
He did not throw the axe at
He did not throw the axe at her. When she hit him with the car he dropped the axe. Why is she not in jail?????
Ax Man
Everybody that has had a comment against Todd Richards needs to read the retrack letter in Sundays paper. She is not a angel at all.
So true Ich. But the reason
So true Ich. But the reason for the new letter is telling what kind of person she is also. They really told a lot of lies on Todd. He has never had a drug conviction but she has lost her daughter to the state because she would not give the drugs up, What kind of a mother would do this?
yes you are
yes you are
Warning Labels
Has it dawned on those of you so quick to criticize this couple that: Had the nanny state been doing their job, a warning label on every axe would say Keep Away from baseball players! Or, not to be used as a car stopper! Is it possible he thought he was Tiger Woods wife for a moment, I think the man has a case.
Nanny state?
And had the Fascist state been doing its job, MoNo, they both would have been packing heat, and we'd be discussing a bloody double homicide right now.
Pleeeasse! Anyone believeing
Pleeeasse! Anyone believeing Todd is an inocent has got to be delusional! And I am not buying the "drug free" saga either, Wake up, they don't even like him in jail! And where are his kids? He has been such an upstanding father huh??? Look again, but take your blinders off!
Let it rest...
I can not believe that everyone is still going on about my brother. He admitted to what he did. Now, he is doing the time. Let it rest...