Convicted child molester receives life in prison without parole

A man convicted of molesting a 5-year-old girl at a NorthTown Mall arcade was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday. Richard Payne, 56, will serve for life without eligibility parole under Washington’s “persistent offender” law, which mandates a life sentence for sex offenders. Payne was found guilty in October of two charges of child molestation and one charge of exposing himself to a minor. He was previously convicted of child molestation at a Spokane store in 2001. Payne also has several acts of indecency with minors dating back to the 1980s. Payne’s attorney, David Hearrean, plans to appeal the verdict.