Security guard gets four years in death of incapacitated man
A security guard who robbed and killed an unconscious man by stomping on his stomach told his probation officer he was frustrated by work stress and by being “involuntarily celibate” at the time of the offence.
Sheldon Russell Bentley was handed a four-year sentence Wednesday for his manslaughter conviction in the death of 51-yearold Donald Doucette. With enhanced credit for time served in pre-trial custody, he has less than two years left to serve.
“The fact that he had a frustrated state of mind in no way justifies attacking a vulnerable individual,” said Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Paul Belzil as he delivered his decision, describing the offence as “completely unprovoked.”
Doucette was either asleep or passed out in an alcove in an alley behind Lucky 97 convenience store near 107A Avenue and 96 Street on July 31, 2015 when Bentley, on shift as a guard at the strip mall, stomped on Doucette’s stomach and stole $20 from him.
At trial, court heard Bentley was wearing combat boots when he landed a blow on Doucette, who was suffering from an alcohol addiction and attempting to seek help.
His daughter Tianna DoucetteMoody said she and her fiance were trying to help her father, and remain devastated that he won’t be in their lives.
“My father was an innocent man who didn’t deserve to die alone in an alley. No one deserves to be treated so inhumanely,” she said while delivering a victim impact statement Wednesday.
Crown prosecutor Kristen Logan asked for a sentence of eight years, arguing there were a number of aggravating factors in the case, including Bentley being in a position of trust in his role as a security guard.
“Mr. Doucette was figuratively and literally kicked while he was down,” she said.
Bentley ’s defence lawyer Amanda Hart-Dowhun argued her client should receive a sentence of two years and four months, followed by a probation term. She pointed to the “impulsive” nature of the offence, and her client’s troubled background.
Although he was working full time as a security guard when he attacked Doucette, he was “working poor,” living in the YMCA and struggling with a job where he was sometimes attacked and had little support or resources.
“There was a lot of stress there,” she said.
Bentley also reported being abused as a child and having an unstable upbringing, according to a pre-sentence report and a psychological assessment. Both reports found Bentley has not taken responsibility for his actions.
Forensic psychiatrist Oto Cadsky wrote that Bentley appears to be a “fearful man, afraid of the world around him” and uses his knowledge of events and carries weapons to give himself confidence.
When he was arrested, police found a pellet gun and nunchuks in a backpack he took to work with him, although there is no evidence he used the weapons on anyone.
Belzil also imposed a weapons prohibition on Bentley and ordered him to supply a DNA sample to a federal database.
When given an opportunity to address the court, Bentley gave a wide-ranging statement, apologizing to Doucette’s family and the community.
“To be honest, I’m sickened at who I was. Even now I don’t fully like the person I see when I look in the mirror,” he said.