A Calgary man was handed a 10-year prison sentence on Thursday for causing the death of a child by running a red light in a stolen minivan. Duane Nepoose, 32, had previously pleaded guilty to charges including dangerous driving resulting in death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, robbery, and evading police.
Prosecutor Todd Buziak highlighted Nepoose’s extensive criminal history and labeled him as a high risk for further violent offenses, recommending a sentence of up to 10 and a half years. Defense attorneys Rebecca Snukal and Sam Taylor, on the other hand, requested a shorter term of seven to nine years from Justice Indra Maharah.
Nepoose remained stoic as the sentence was announced, following an incident on Boxing Day 2024 where he stole a minivan from a pharmacist and led police on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 180 km/h. Tragically, Nepoose ran a red light on Macleod Trail and collided with a car driven by Amanda Reitmeier, severely injuring her daughter Victoria Desjardins, 9, who later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
Footage of the crash and its aftermath was shown during Nepoose’s guilty plea, revealing the frantic efforts of first responders to save Desjardins’ life. The incident left Desjardins deceased, her sister with serious injuries, and Reitmeier hospitalized for weeks with multiple fractures and contusions.