Though Robert H. Richards IV was convicted of rape, the wealthy heir to the du Pont family fortune was spared prison by a Delaware court in 2009 because he would "not fare well" behind bars, according to court documents CNN obtained Tuesday. 

Richards is a great-grandson of the chemical magnate Irenee du Pont. 

He received an eight-year prison sentence in 2009 for raping his toddler daughter, but the sentencing order signed by a Delaware judge said "defendant will not fare well" in prison and the eight years were suspended. 

Richards was placed on eight years' probation and ordered to get treatment and register as a sex offender, the documents show. He was also prohibited from having contact with children under 16, including his own children. 

The documents were never sealed, yet the ruling managed to go unnoticed until March, when Richards' former wife, Tracy Richards, filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court on behalf of their children alleging "personal injuries arising from the childhood sexual abuse." The 11-page suit alleges that not only was their daughter abused, but Richards abused their son, too. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages. 

While he was convicted of raping his daughter, Richards has never been charged with sexually molesting his son, according to Jason Miller, a spokesman for the Delaware attorney general's office. 

CNN tried repeatedly to reach Richards and Eugene Maurer, the attorney who represented him in 2009. Maurer is no longer representing Richards, his assistant told CNN on Wednesday. CNN asked if he had a comment; he has not offered one. 
What was Irenee du Pont Who is his great-grandson What was he convicted of When was he convicted? How long was his sentence? Did he serve this? What was he prohibited from? Where was the lawsuit filed? Who is Jason Miller Has Richards been charged with molesting his son? Who tried to reach Richards Who is Eugene Maurer Does he still represent him? Did he have a comment?
A chemical magnate Robert H. Richards IV raped his toddler daughter 2009 eight-years No He was also prohibited from having contact with children under 16, including his own children. Delaware Superior Court A spokesman for the Delaware attorney general's office. No CNN the attorney who represented him in 2009 No No