A judge sentenced a man to 12 years in prison Thursday for sexually assaulting three vulnerable women at a rural home near Calgary.
Richard Robert Mantha, 62, was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, that happened between 2019 and 2023. He was also found guilty of uttering threats against a fourth woman.
Court heard most of the victims worked in the sex trade.
Provincial court Justice Judith Shriar said Mantha showed disrespect by laughing as one of the women fled the property partially clothed, fearing for her life.
“She used all her strength to push him off and ran out yelling and crying, pants partly down with no shoes on. She recalled him laughing. She did not know where she was or where she was heading,” the judge said in her sentencing decision.
A judge has sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults on vulnerable women at a rural home near Calgary. Richard Robert Mantha was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, that happened between 2019 and 2023.
The Canadian Press
Shriar said the victim impact statement from that woman, Aimee Ert, was one of the most moving she has heard. The court earlier granted a request from Ert to lift a publication ban on her name.
“Mr. Mantha’s laughing at the terrified, half-dressed Miss Ert as she ran away is aggravating, demonstrating a callous indifference to her condition and a high degree of moral culpability,” said the judge.
Shriar gave Mantha credit of five years and three months for time he has already served in custody, meaning he has a little less than seven years left to serve.
The Crown had asked for 10 to 13 years in prison, while the defence recommended between five and seven years.
The trial, which started in January 2024, faced several lengthy delays because Mantha fired previous lawyers and had a stroke.
Ert told reporters outside of court that she’s feeling some closure with the sentence.
“Anybody that can actively harm someone in the ways that he did will get what they deserve. He’s a very little man, and I can’t even say a man,” she said.
“I couldn’t help but look at him and just pity that … terrible person that will suffer and is suffering because of his own actions.”
Prosecutor Dominique Mathurin said it’s a relief the case is over.
“The road to today has been long. We are so grateful to each of the victims for coming forward and giving their testimony, which takes immense bravery and without whom a conviction would not have been possible.”