Billings, Montana - A man who told a child rape victim that she lied and accused prosecutors of fabricating evidence was sentenced Tuesday to six consecutive life terms without parole, plus 100 years, by a judge who described him as "the embodiment of a psychopath."
Lucien Sidney Bonck III, 58, received the sentence from District Judge Gregory Todd during a contentious court hearing at which the judge threatened to have Bonck shackled and gagged.
Bonck was sentenced for three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of sexual assault related to the 2002 rape of a 7-year-old Billings girl. Todd ordered the sentences to run consecutive. He also designated Bonck a Level III sex offender, considered the highest risk to commit new sex offenses.
The judge added the 100-year prison term for a felony tampering charge in which Bonck tried to convince his son to lie at his trial.
Bonck was convicted of the charges at trial in February.
Todd imposed the maximum possible sentence on each count at the request of Deputy County Attorney Anne-Marie McKittrick, who described Bonck as a "sexually violent predator" with a long criminal history. Bonck's first felony conviction was in 1974 for armed robbery in La., McKittrick said, followed by subsequent convictions in that state and in Wyoming for charges ranging from burglary to drunken driving.
Bonck was sentenced as a persistent felony offender, which carries a maximum possible sentence enhancement of 100 years in prison. Bonck previously was convicted in Yellowstone County of raping an 8-year-old Billings boy and received a 20-year sentence.
With no chance of rehabilitation and a psychological evaluation that determined Bonck is a psychopath without remorse or empathy, McKittrick told Todd that his "focus now should be on punishment and protecting our children."
McKittrick said the term psychopath "is thrown around" in popular culture, but she described Bonck as "the real thing" who "wants and desires to sexually prey on children."
"Please, please, lock him up forever," McKittrick told the judge.
With the now 15-year-old victim in the courtroom, Bonck delivered a rambling indictment of the girl, her family, the prosecution and his defense attorneys. Facing the girl, he accused her of lying at his trial.
Bonck also attacked McKittrick, claiming that the prosecutor tampered with and fabricated evidence against him.
"I've sat here for three years and watched you create this case," Bonck said.
He also complained that his court-appointed attorneys failed to properly represent him, and he claimed that his appeal has "an 80 percent chance of success."
Todd called Bonck's statements "incredible" and "absolutely unbelievable."
"It seems like whenever you open your mouth, Mr. Bonck, I continue to be amazed," Todd told Bonck.
The judge then delivered a stern rebuke against Bonck's allegation that the victim lied and th t the prosecutor tampered with evidence in the case. Todd suggested that the psychologists who evaluated Bonck and diagnosed him as a psychopath would benefit from seeing Bonck's courtroom speech.
"They rarely get to see, in person, the embodiment of a psychopath," Todd said. "That's what you are."
As Todd explained why he was imposing the lengthy sentence, Bonck interrupted him several times. At one point, Bonck turned to his court-appointed defense attorney and said he was "done" listening to the judge.
"I've had enough," Bonck said.
"Quiet," screamed Judge Gregory Todd after an outburst by the defendant during the hearing. Bonck said he was done and wanted to leave the courtroom. "No," said Todd, "if need be we'll bind you and gag you but you'll at least be able to hear."
Todd threatened to have Bonck shackled and gagged if he continued to interrupt him as he explained the sentence.
People like this should not even be on the PLANET!
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