Sentencing hearing underway for Calgary man who preyed on sex trade workers

A court hearing is currently in session for Richard Mantha, a 62-year-old individual from Calgary, who has been accused of sexually assaulting and drugging vulnerable women working in the sex trade. The trial, which has spanned several years and faced numerous delays, commenced in January 2024. Mantha was arrested in April 2023 following a police investigation in Rocky View County, located east of Calgary.

He has been charged with multiple offenses, including sexual assault, administering a noxious substance, uttering threats, assault with a weapon, and suffocation during the sexual assault.

The trial concluded in April, with Justice Judith Shriar determining Mantha guilty on six counts, encompassing sexual assault, knowingly administering a noxious substance, uttering threats, assault with a weapon, and suffocation during the sexual assault. The accused opted not to present himself in his defense, and the trial was predominantly based on the testimonies of the six complainants.

One of the complainants, Aimee Ert, provided an impact statement during the trial, recounting her escape from Mantha's grasp using a large piece of wood and subsequently fleeing through fields and ditches before collapsing in a hospital. In her statement, Ert expressed her gratitude for having the strength to fight back and survive the ordeal. She also emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting the potential consequences had she not fought back.

Crown prosecutor Dominique Mathurin is seeking a prison sentence of 10 to 13 years for Mantha. She argued that the crime inflicted a significant blow to the victims' sense of security, autonomy, and self-worth. Mathurin emphasized the vulnerability of the complainants, particularly the woman who provided the impact statement, whose ordeal was further compounded by Mantha's laughter. The sentencing decision is scheduled to be delivered by Justice Schriar on September 17.