Aug 09, 2007 - 04:02:55 CDT
Steven Floyd Carlson has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing and tying up an elderly Mandan man.Carlson, 49, pleaded guilty to Class B felony robbery and Class C felony charges of aggravated assault, felonious restraint and reckless endangerment on May 21. South Central District Judge David Reich ordered that a presentence investigation be conducted, along with chemical dependency and psychological evaluations.
Reich sentenced Carlson on Wednesday to 10 years in prison for robbery. The judge gave him five-year suspended sentences and three years of supervised probation for the other three charges.
Carlson will receive credit for 168 days he has served in the Morton County Correctional Center.
Carlson entered the apartment of William H. Bentley, 80, on Feb. 12, hit Bentley over the head, tied him up and stole his wallet. At an earlier hearing, Carlson admitted to punching Bentley twice in the head and once in the neck during the incident.
A neighbor noticed Bentley had not been at lunch Feb. 12 or 13 and had his lights and television on late at night, which was unusual. The neighbor alerted the housing authority at Liberty Heights, an apartment complex for retired people at 1500 Third Ave. N.W., and a maintenance man entered the apartment at around 3 p.m. Feb. 13.
Bentley's hands and feet were bound, and he was lying on the floor of his apartment. Police believe he had been bound for 28 hours. Bentley was taken to a hospital for a head injury, dehydration and injuries to his arms and legs. He was released from the hospital Feb. 16.
Police used witness testimony to pin Carlson as a suspect. He was charged Feb. 17, and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day.
Police searched for Carlson in the area after the warrant was issued but were unable to find him. Carlson was arrested Feb. 21 while walking along a road in Jackson County, Mo.
DNA found on a coffee cup in Bentley's apartment was matched to Carlson's DNA in an out-of-state database, and Carlson's fingerprint was found on a milk carton in Bentley's refrigerator.
Morton County assistant state's attorney Brian Grosinger requested Carlson be sentenced to a total of 12½ years in prison:10 years for robbery and five years with 2½ years suspended on the other three charges. He recommended Carlson be on supervised probation for five years following his release.
"Your honor, this defendant attacked a man in his 80s," Grosinger said. "I argue to the court that this is an act of extreme cruelty."
He said Carlson has bi-polar disorder, chemical dependency issues and other problems, but argued that those problems do not always lead other people to commit such acts.
"The cruelty of this act alone justifies the sentence," he said.
Carlson's appointed defense attorney, Steven Balaban, said Carlson's problems should be considered upon sentencing. Carlson was off his medication and self-medicating with alcohol at the time of the attack, he said.
"While it doesn't excuse his actions, your honor, it is a mitigating factor," he said.
Balaban asked for a sentence of 10 years with five years suspended for robbery and five-year suspended sentences for the other offenses. He also recommended five years of supervised probation.
Carlson apologized for what he did. "It's just that it's way out of my character," he said.
Reich, who pointed out that the victim's tongue was swollen from extreme dehydration when he was found, said he was dealing with a "very troubling case."
"It really is a reprehensible type of crime," he said. "It may be out of character, but it is a very cruel act."
(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)
PO4 wrote on Aug 27, 2007 1:43 PM:
Get real wrote on Aug 9, 2007 3:21 PM:
PO3 wrote on Aug 9, 2007 1:18 PM:
Thomas Elliot wrote on Aug 9, 2007 10:34 AM:
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