Former children's pastor who attempted to murder his family sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison

[Michie]

Just over a month after pleading guilty to attempting to murder his family in Kansas because he didn’t want them to discover they were being evicted from their foreclosed home, former Crossroads Christian Church children's pastor, Matthew Lee Richards, was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 30 years in prison for his crime.

Richards, 43, who initially faced four charges of attempted first-degree murder, one charge of attempted capital murder and one charge of aggravated arson, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder last month.

He received two consecutive terms of 188 months each for the attempted murder convictions, KMBC reported.

Continued below.

Former children's pastor who attempted to murder his family sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison

Just over a month after pleading guilty to attempting to murder his family because he didn t want them to discover they were being evicted from their foreclosed home, former children s pastor Matthew

www.christianpost.com

 

[FireDragon76]

Let's just shoot our wounded.

This isn't justice. It's just incredibly sad. Obviously, this father's mental state has to be a factor in any evaluation of his behavior and the associated culpability. It might be hard for many well to do people to understand, but facing poverty and homelessness is incredibly traumatic, and probably made worse by the enormous sense of personal responsibility this father likely bore.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

I'm sorry; mental health is no excuse. If everyone who committed a crime were excused from it on the basis of mental state, jails and prisons would be much emptier than they are, but their victims would be a lot less safe. Of course that man was in mental agony. Who wouldn't be? I have a psychiatric diagnosis myself, and I have been homeless, and I have had my entire world crash down around me multiple times. Just this past Christmas Eve, my 39-year-old daughter suddenly died of an accidental drug overdose in my home, while helping to prepare for festivities she didn't get to be part of. To say I am devastated doesn't do it justice. I don't know if I'll ever be the same again. I'm only going through the motions. Deep inside, I feel like I died with my daughter.

If I were to attempt to murder family members, or anyone else, or if I were to harm someone in any way under any circumstances, would/should my mental state excuse me? I don't think so.

This being said, I believe that even within the criminal justice system, and certainly in tandem with it, there should be more emphasis on mental health. One of the main reasons jails and prisons are so overcrowded is because they are the only places that aren't allowed to say, "No, we don't want that person here. We don't have the room. We don't have enough staff. We're not equipped to deal with them." Mental health institutions certainly can and do turn people away who desperately need help. Either they don't have any beds available, or there wouldn't be a large enough staff to resident ratio, or that person's behavior is too extreme, and they don't have the necessary accommodations, training, or resources. So they get to refuse that person. But the jails can't.

 

[JustaPewFiller]

I'm sorry; mental health is no excuse. If everyone who committed a crime were excused from it on the basis of mental state, jails and prisons would be much emptier than they are, but their victims would be a lot less safe. Of course that man was in mental agony. Who wouldn't be? I have a psychiatric diagnosis myself, and I have been homeless, and I have had my entire world crash down around me multiple times. Just this past Christmas Eve, my 39-year-old daughter suddenly died of an accidental drug overdose in my home, while helping to prepare for festivities she didn't get to be part of. To say I am devastated doesn't do it justice. I don't know if I'll ever be the same again. I'm only going through the motions. Deep inside, I feel like I died with my daughter.

If I were to attempt to murder family members, or anyone else, or if I were to harm someone in any way under any circumstances, would/should my mental state excuse me? I don't think so.

This being said, I believe that even within the criminal justice system, and certainly in tandem with it, there should be more emphasis on mental health. One of the main reasons jails and prisons are so overcrowded is because they are the only places that aren't allowed to say, "No, we don't want that person here. We don't have the room. We don't have enough staff. We're not equipped to deal with them." Mental health institutions certainly can and do turn people away who desperately need help. Either they don't have any beds available, or there wouldn't be a large enough staff to resident ratio, or that person's behavior is too extreme, and they don't have the necessary accommodations, training, or resources. So they get to refuse that person. But the jails can't.

First, I am very sorry for your loss.

Second, very well said.
Here in the US we have what I call "the 3 C's". They are Cops, Courts, Corrections. For better or worse, that is about all we have that is available to everyone. Sure, there are hospitals, etc. But most of those cost $ and can (and do) turn people away.
So, Cops, Courts and Corrections have become the "one size fits all" solution to low (or no) income people in distress.

I recently asked one homeless man how he felt about local law enforcement. He shrugged and said, "They are like our babysitters. If we aren't causing trouble or being too visible they'll leave us alone. If somebody calls or we are acting up they'll tell us to move on, maybe trespass us or take us to jail for a time-out."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a good system. But it is the system in place.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

First, I am very sorry for your loss.

Second, very well said.
Here in the US we have what I call "the 3 C's". They are Cops, Courts, Corrections. For better or worse, that is about all we have that is available to everyone. Sure, there are hospitals, etc. But most of those cost $ and can (and do) turn people away.
So, Cops, Courts and Corrections have become the "one size fits all" solution to low (or no) income people in distress.

I recently asked one homeless man how he felt about local law enforcement. He shrugged and said, "They are like our babysitters. If we aren't causing trouble or being too visible they'll leave us alone. If somebody calls or we are acting up they'll tell us to move on, maybe trespass us or take us to jail for a time-out."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a good system. But it is the system in place.

I appreciate your thoughts and your sympathy. Let's hope this man does get the help he needs while he's in there.

 

[Michie]

Pastor who tried to kill his family weeps, reads Psalm 51 in court; hopes to recover like David

At an emotional hearing where he was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for attempting to murder his wife and children, a sobbing Matthew Lee Richards repented of his actions and read from Psalm

www.christianpost.com

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Reserving judgment, as words don't mean much. Time will show the actions.

 

[FireDragon76]

First, I am very sorry for your loss.

Second, very well said.
Here in the US we have what I call "the 3 C's". They are Cops, Courts, Corrections. For better or worse, that is about all we have that is available to everyone. Sure, there are hospitals, etc. But most of those cost $ and can (and do) turn people away.
So, Cops, Courts and Corrections have become the "one size fits all" solution to low (or no) income people in distress.

I recently asked one homeless man how he felt about local law enforcement. He shrugged and said, "They are like our babysitters. If we aren't causing trouble or being too visible they'll leave us alone. If somebody calls or we are acting up they'll tell us to move on, maybe trespass us or take us to jail for a time-out."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its a good system. But it is the system in place.

That's my point. It isn't a good system. Playing up 'individual responsibility' doesn't change that.