El Cajon

An 81-year-old man will probably be sent to state prison after pleading guilty to molesting six girls, Deputy Dist. Atty. Cathy Stephenson said.

John Joseph Richardson of Rancho San Diego pleaded guilty last week to six counts of committing a lewd act and oral copulation with minors.

Sentencing was set for Nov. 13 by San Diego Municipal Judge Terry Knoepp. Richardson remains in County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Richardson was arrested three weeks ago and charged with 30 counts of molestation. The remaining 24 counts were dropped after he pleaded guilty to six.

Stephenson said that Richardson could be sentenced to a maximum of 14 years in state prison and is unlikely to receive probation.

Stephenson said Richardson admitted to a special allegation that he committed substantial sexual conduct with a child under 11, which usually prohibits a defendant from receiving probation. “He’s going to go to prison. It’s just a matter of how long,” Stephenson said.

Richardson was acquainted with one girl, and the other victims were her friends, who were 7 to 9 years of age. They all lived in East County.