Mantha Convicted on 6 Out of 20 Charges

0:00It's April 7th. You're listening to Calgary News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. Richard Robert Manta, a 62-year-old suspected serial rapist, just got convicted on sexually assaulting three out of seven women he was accused of targeting. Out of 20 total charges, the judge nailed him on six, including some threats and one count of slipping a noxious substance just to mess with a victim. The judge cited with a defense that a lot of the victim stories didn't hold up, especially since many were vulnerable folks caught up in drugs. She noted Manta handed out fentanyl, meth, and cracked to most, but they took it willingly, so no intent to seriously harm proved on most counts. Back in April 6th, 2023, cops raided his rented quonset hut east of Calgary, with RCMP help and cadaver dogs, no bodies turned up, but it led to his arrest. Now kicked off in January 2024, hit snags like Manta's stroke and may that left him speechless. Crown prosecutors even dropped two sexual assault cases, one because the woman passed away

1:03before testifying, and her staming got blocked. Still, Manta got hit with guilt on choking one victim during an assault, smacking another with her phone as a weapon, and drugging to annoy. His lawyers and the crown head back to court this Friday to set a sentencing day with a judge. He stays locked up until then, waiting on what's next. For these convictions.