B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.

Rykel Frank (née Charleson) and Mitchell Frank both stood in ankle shackles in a Port Alberni courtroom Thursday as the judge read their punishment for the death of Dontay Patrick Lucas, who was found in medical distress inside the Port Alberni townhome he shared with his mother on March 13, 2018.

The boy was rushed to hospital but died from multiple traumatic injuries.

Two weeks later, the Mounties announced the boy's death was considered suspicious.

Four years would pass before the mother and stepfather would be charged, initially with first-degree murder. Then in November of last year, they were allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charges of manslaughter.

Crown prosecutors sought 15 years for the couple, each with three years' credit for time already served, which the judge granted.

An emotion-filled courtroom heard multiple victim impact statements Thursday and watched a video of Dontay, who wanted to be a firefighter when he grew up, performing an Indigenous ceremonial dance with his cousin.