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Dotson sentenced for the murder of former Baylor player
A former Baylor University basketball player was sentenced to 35 years in prison Wednesday, a week after he unexpectedly pleaded guilty to murdering his teammate.
Carlton Dotson, 23, faced from five years to life in prison for killing Patrick Dennehy. The 21-year-old who dreamed of playing in the NBA was missing for six weeks before his body was found in July 2003 in a field where the best friends had gone to shoot guns at targets.
On June 8, five days before his murder trial was to start, Dotson pleaded guilty without a sentencing deal with prosecutors. Dotson will be eligible for parole after serving about half of the sentence.
In an emotional victim impact statement after the judge announced Dotson's sentence, Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, called Dotson an "instrument of the devil" and said he killed the Dennehy family's dreams when he pulled the trigger.
"Carlton, Patrick was someone who cared for you, who you laughed with, who was there by your side," Brabazon said, often glaring, shouting and pointing at Dotson, who showed no expression. "He would not leave you no matter how tough times got. ... Carlton Dotson, you killed a beautiful young man: James Patrick Dennehy II, a loving son, a loving brother, a loving boyfriend, a human being."
As Dotson was led out of the courtroom, Brabazon held up a framed picture of Dennehy and shouted "Remember him! Remember his face!" to Dotson.
No witnesses were called Wednesday; state District Judge Ralph Strother ruled based on documents filed by prosecutors and defense attorneys. Strother said he considered the senseless nature of the crime, Dotson's mental problems, age and lack of previous criminal record.
"I suspect there is no way in the world for these two families who have suffered in this situation to appreciate the suffering that each has undergone," Strother said. "I hope that as time goes by, that they will understand that there but by the grace of God could go I."
After the brief hearing, Dennehy's mother, Valorie Brabazon, wiped away tears and said she wanted a longer sentence. She said the family would attend all parole board hearings and urge that Dotson "doesn't walk the streets again." She said she still felt deep anger toward Dotson.
"We still don't have an answer to why Carlton would put in his mind to take our son away," she said.
McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest also said he hoped for a longer sentence.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. said the punishment was fair and that Dotson was remorseful. Dotson told his attorneys that in the months before he shot Dennehy, he was paranoid that people were trying to kill him.
"Patrick started shooting at cans and things; he had a gun in his hand. At that time Carlton thought, 'He's going to kill me. I know he's going to kill me. I've got to kill him first.' And he killed him first," Hunt said.
Dotson's mother, Gilreatha Stoltzfus, who shook hands with Dennehy's relatives in the courtroom, said she urged her son to plead guilty. She also said Baylor should be held responsible for not supervising the athletes.
Part of the prosecution's report to the judge included FBI documents detailing Dotson's confession, in which he said "a higher power told him to talk to the FBI" and told authorities where to look for Dennehy. The body was found a few days later.
Dotson told agents that he thought people were trying to kill him because "he is Jesus, the son of God." Dotson, who moved in with Dennehy in May 2003, said the two bought guns for protection after receiving threatening phone calls.
He told FBI agents that on June 11, Dennehy pointed a gun at him after the pair went to gravel pits for target practice. When Dennehy's gun jammed, Dotson said "Father, please forgive me," and shot his friend. He then packed his belongings, called a relative to wire him money and drove home to Maryland, throwing the gun in a lake along the way.
But the autopsy doesn't support his self-defense claim. Dennehy was shot twice: once above the right ear and once behind it toward the back of the head.
Last fall, Dotson was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a state mental hospital. He was returned to jail in February after a hospital psychologist said Dotson was competent but must keep taking anti-psychotic medication.
The psychologist also said Dotson's accounts of hearing voices and seeing things were "suspect."
His attorneys later said they would not use an insanity defense.
Dennehy played two seasons for the New Mexico Lobos before transferring to Baylor in the spring of 2002.
Meanwhile, Baylor is waiting on the expected summer release of an NCAA report on whether the school faces more sanctions in addition to Baylor's self-imposed penalties.
Allegations of NCAA violations surfaced after Dennehy's disappearance and death, and men's coach Dave Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton later resigned.
An internal Baylor investigative committee later found that Bliss improperly paid up to $40,000 in tuition for Dennehy and another player, and that the coaching staff didn't report players' failed drug tests. Bliss also asked players and an assistant coach to lie to investigators by saying Dennehy paid his tuition by dealing drugs.
Source: AP
Carlton Dotson, 23, faced from five years to life in prison for killing Patrick Dennehy. The 21-year-old who dreamed of playing in the NBA was missing for six weeks before his body was found in July 2003 in a field where the best friends had gone to shoot guns at targets.
On June 8, five days before his murder trial was to start, Dotson pleaded guilty without a sentencing deal with prosecutors. Dotson will be eligible for parole after serving about half of the sentence.
In an emotional victim impact statement after the judge announced Dotson's sentence, Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, called Dotson an "instrument of the devil" and said he killed the Dennehy family's dreams when he pulled the trigger.
"Carlton, Patrick was someone who cared for you, who you laughed with, who was there by your side," Brabazon said, often glaring, shouting and pointing at Dotson, who showed no expression. "He would not leave you no matter how tough times got. ... Carlton Dotson, you killed a beautiful young man: James Patrick Dennehy II, a loving son, a loving brother, a loving boyfriend, a human being."
As Dotson was led out of the courtroom, Brabazon held up a framed picture of Dennehy and shouted "Remember him! Remember his face!" to Dotson.
No witnesses were called Wednesday; state District Judge Ralph Strother ruled based on documents filed by prosecutors and defense attorneys. Strother said he considered the senseless nature of the crime, Dotson's mental problems, age and lack of previous criminal record.
"I suspect there is no way in the world for these two families who have suffered in this situation to appreciate the suffering that each has undergone," Strother said. "I hope that as time goes by, that they will understand that there but by the grace of God could go I."
After the brief hearing, Dennehy's mother, Valorie Brabazon, wiped away tears and said she wanted a longer sentence. She said the family would attend all parole board hearings and urge that Dotson "doesn't walk the streets again." She said she still felt deep anger toward Dotson.
"We still don't have an answer to why Carlton would put in his mind to take our son away," she said.
McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest also said he hoped for a longer sentence.
Defense attorney Russ Hunt Sr. said the punishment was fair and that Dotson was remorseful. Dotson told his attorneys that in the months before he shot Dennehy, he was paranoid that people were trying to kill him.
"Patrick started shooting at cans and things; he had a gun in his hand. At that time Carlton thought, 'He's going to kill me. I know he's going to kill me. I've got to kill him first.' And he killed him first," Hunt said.
Dotson's mother, Gilreatha Stoltzfus, who shook hands with Dennehy's relatives in the courtroom, said she urged her son to plead guilty. She also said Baylor should be held responsible for not supervising the athletes.
Part of the prosecution's report to the judge included FBI documents detailing Dotson's confession, in which he said "a higher power told him to talk to the FBI" and told authorities where to look for Dennehy. The body was found a few days later.
Dotson told agents that he thought people were trying to kill him because "he is Jesus, the son of God." Dotson, who moved in with Dennehy in May 2003, said the two bought guns for protection after receiving threatening phone calls.
He told FBI agents that on June 11, Dennehy pointed a gun at him after the pair went to gravel pits for target practice. When Dennehy's gun jammed, Dotson said "Father, please forgive me," and shot his friend. He then packed his belongings, called a relative to wire him money and drove home to Maryland, throwing the gun in a lake along the way.
But the autopsy doesn't support his self-defense claim. Dennehy was shot twice: once above the right ear and once behind it toward the back of the head.
Last fall, Dotson was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a state mental hospital. He was returned to jail in February after a hospital psychologist said Dotson was competent but must keep taking anti-psychotic medication.
The psychologist also said Dotson's accounts of hearing voices and seeing things were "suspect."
His attorneys later said they would not use an insanity defense.
Dennehy played two seasons for the New Mexico Lobos before transferring to Baylor in the spring of 2002.
Meanwhile, Baylor is waiting on the expected summer release of an NCAA report on whether the school faces more sanctions in addition to Baylor's self-imposed penalties.
Allegations of NCAA violations surfaced after Dennehy's disappearance and death, and men's coach Dave Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton later resigned.
An internal Baylor investigative committee later found that Bliss improperly paid up to $40,000 in tuition for Dennehy and another player, and that the coaching staff didn't report players' failed drug tests. Bliss also asked players and an assistant coach to lie to investigators by saying Dennehy paid his tuition by dealing drugs.
Source: AP