Chron: Former Baylor player sentenced to 35 years for killing teammate

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3226626

WACO - A former Baylor University basketball player was sentenced to 35 years in prison today, a week after he unexpectedly pleaded guilty to murdering his teammate two years ago.

Carlton Dotson, 23, faced from five years to life in prison for killing Patrick Dennehy, 21, who was missing for six weeks before his body was found in field a few miles from campus in July 2003. On June 8, five days before his murder trial was to start, Dotson pleaded guilty without a sentencing deal with prosecutors.

In an emotional victim-impact statement after the judge announced Dotson's sentence, Dennehy's stepfather, Brian Brabazon, told Dotson that he killed the family's dreams when he killed Dennehy. Brabazon called him an "instrument of the devil" and said he hoped Dotson never got out of prison.

"Carlton, Patrick was someone who cared for you, who you laughed with, who was there by your side," Brabazon said, at times glaring 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."

Instead of hearing from witnesses Wednesday, state District Judge Ralph Strother made his decision based on documents filed by prosecutors and defense attorneys. Before announcing the sentence, Strother said he considered not only the senseless nature of the crime but 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 Dotson was led out of the courtroom, his mother, Gilreatha Stoltzfus, shook hands with and hugged Dennehy's relatives.

Part of the prosecution's report 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 he had received threatening telephone calls and that the two bought guns for protection.

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 went to pack 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 released and returned to jail in February after a hospital psychologist said Dotson was competent but must continue to take anti-psychotic medication.

The psychologist also said Dotson's accounts of hearing voices and seeing things were "suspect."

A few weeks before Dotson's plea, his attorneys said they would not pursue an insanity defense.

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.