Richard "Richie" Caskey is a paroled rapist who was nearly framed for the crimes of his corrupt lawyer Thomas Zimmerman.
Background[]
Prior to his arrest, he had a well-paying job and was happily married. At a bachelor party, an intoxicated Richie raped a waitress and was sent to prison for it. While incarcerated, he decided to get his act together for his wife who stayed by his side. Upon release, he was forced to register as a sex offender and was sent to live at a shelter for sex offenders. Seeing others like him, Richie decided to make sure each of them own up to what they did to get them at this point, so they can make better choices. This made him look like a model parolee to others since he owned up to his actions.
Sheltered Outcasts[]
When a woman is raped not too far from the shelter, Caskey and the other sex offenders are questioned by SVU on their whereabouts at the time of the attack. It was shown Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr. was undercover there before they are taken to the precinct. Caskey does the voice recorder after it was mentioned the attacker spoke, but his voice is not a match. This interview lasted until Caskey's lawyer Thomas Zimmerman shows up to defend him.
When Robin had a therapy session, Caskey has Carisi (who was undercover as Dominick "Smitty" Smith) admit his guilt that got him sent to prison in the first place. Robin soon states Caskey is a model resident, because he has come to terms with admitting his guilt. Caskey later intervenes on "Smitty's" behalf when the relatives of the woman attacked Carisi believing he might be the rapist before realizing Caskey was a resident too and turn their rage on him. However, Caskey ends up being too much for them and they flee but promise to be back. Carisi thanks Caskey for helping him and he says it was no problem. Caskey starts associating with Carisi more and the latter is asked to speak in his favor when Zimmerman and Robin decide to issue a petition to get Caskey's sex offender status lowered to let him live with his wife.
However, Caskey shows up late for a session but reveals he got hired at a radio station. In that frame of time, Robin Daughtry, the shelter's therapist was raped and murdered by a hooded man who was identified by her because she could take his mask off and saw her attacker's face, leaving him no other option than kill her, in order of not being caught. Because of Caskey's delay to the meeting, fingers are pointed at him as the responsible of Robin's rape and death, Carisi was shocked because he saw Caskey as a good man and a successful case of recovery. After that, all the facts against Caskey are presented, Benson orders his arrest and Carisi, himself, went to do it. Caskey couldn't believe that his friend "Smitty" was really an undercover cop, he was taken to the SVU headquarters for interrogation, where Zimmerman was waiting for him to assist.
While the three were arguing, Benson and Mary Colten, another woman who was previously attacked by the rapist walk out of Benson's office. Overhearing the argument, Mary started to react at hearing them talk. Benson has Carisi take Caskey and Zimmerman away for questioning, while a shaking Mary identifies one of the voices as her rapist and tells Benson that it is not Caskey but the other one. After some hours, Carisi and Benson tell Caskey and Zimmerman that cameras caught sight of Robin Daughtry's attacker, with some of her valuables taken. They are getting a warrant to search Caskey's house, with Zimmerman telling the protesting Caskey that he will be there for his wife to watch the event. Benson has officers raid Caskey's house, where they locate evidence and present to Caskey and Zimmerman. Horrified, Caskey asserts his innocence, as Zimmerman tells him that he will defend him through the debacle. When Carisi and Benson tell the perpetrator to get up because he is under arrest, Caskey started to stand but Benson stops him and made it clear that they were talking to Zimmerman. As the protesting Zimmerman was arrested, Caskey voiced confusion about the events.
Caskey is later updated by Carisi on the situation and is surprised to hear his own lawyer committed the crimes, while knowing sex offenders would be blamed for it. He also learns the detectives played Zimmerman into thinking that a camera watched the assault and how Caskey's wife helped them catch Zimmerman in the act and says that he wishes he didn't doubt him. Caskey was not angry about being accused and forgives Carisi while saying with his background it shouldn't be a surprise. Caskey was exonerated and allowed to go home to his wife. (SVU: "Sheltered Outcasts")