Crown to seek dangerous offender designation for man who raped 90-year-old

WARNING: This article contains details of abuse.

Prosecutors will seek a dangerous offender designation for a Calgary man who raped a 90-year-old woman in her assisted living apartment, court heard Friday.

In February, a jury convicted Duran Ross Buffalo, 40, of aggravated sexual assault and breaking and entering to commit sexual assault. The convictions were for a 2021 attack on a victim whose identity is protected by a publication ban. 

A sentencing hearing has not yet taken place. Instead, Buffalo appeared in court Friday and the Crown confirmed it is awaiting reports so the prosecution can proceed with a dangerous offender hearing. 

Prosecutor Matt Dalidowicz indicated that once a dangerous offender assessment has been completed, he will seek leave from the attorney general to proceed with a hearing, which has already been scheduled for March 2026.

Indefinite sentence possible 

If Court of King's Bench Justice Michele Hollins declares Buffalo a dangerous offender based on a pattern of violent behaviour, the court can then impose an indeterminate prison sentence. 

Alternatively, the judge could also impose a fixed sentence with a long-term supervision order of up to 10 years, which would allow court-ordered conditions for monitoring the offender in the community. 

• 'I can't stop crying': Jurors hear tearful 911 call from 90-year-old rape victim

There have been serious mental health concerns for Buffalo over the years, but he was ultimately found fit to stand trial. 

Buffalo represented himself and, for the most part, refused to speak, although he did shout several times about "demons."

At one point, court had to take a break because Buffalo was sleeping on the floor in the prisoner's box. 

Seniors complex break-in

During the trial, court heard that Buffalo broke into a northwest seniors' complex on Jan. 1, 2021.

Police responded to the break-in and spent about 15 minutes looking through the 17-storey building before they left, believing Buffalo had escaped through a different doorway. 

In fact, he was hiding in the elderly woman's storage closet. 

Jurors heard a tearful 911 call placed by the woman in the moments after Buffalo fled her apartment. 

"I don't know what to do," she said, crying. "I was in bed asleep and this guy broke in and had sex with me."

The victim was ultimately taken to hospital and examined. A rape kit was conducted. 

Over the next few days, she developed dark and extensive bruises on her face and wrists.

Buffalo was arrested a month later.