A woman accused of robbing and beating a woman on a CTrain platform in a random attack earlier this month has a long history in the court system. Brittany Jewel Mahingen was convicted of killing her mother in 2012 and has a lengthy criminal history. Mahingen was scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on Wednesday related to a number of charges including a vicious robbery at the Crowfoot CTrain station two weeks ago. Victim Sandra Steffens said she suffered a random attack on May 15 where she was beaten so badly she ended up in hospital for eight days. READ MORE: ‘I got beaten’: Victim of CTrain attack speaks out Mahingen remains in custody as her lawyer works on a release plan, but CTV News has learned she was previously charged in an attack involving two victims at the Lions Park LRT station in March 2023. Court documents show several charges connected to the incident, including aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and three breaches of failing to comply with a release order. Those charges were tossed out due to lack of evidence. In 2012, she was sentenced to five years in prison for what the court described as a “vicious” beating death of her mother. And as of 2019, she became a registered sex offender. “If guilty of the offence, it’s really quite alarming to me,” said Doug King, a criminal studies professor at Mount Royal University. During a May police commission meeting, frustration boiled over for some officers over criminals not in custody. “We have to somehow change the way that third leg of democracy works and start putting people away for criminality,” said Calgary Police Commission vice chair Kelly Ogle. Police Chief Katie McLellan also weighted-in on repeat offenders saying CPS does speak with the current prosecution office about the bail policy. “It’s difficult when we see that revolving door, particularly when it involves serious crimes,” McLellan said. “We continue to work with our crime partners and have these conversations. They’re stuck with respect to legislation and so forth. And I think at the end of the day, some of that needs to be looked at.” One Calgary Conservative member of Parliament says Mehingen’s case highlights her party’s “Jail Not Bail Act.” That proposed legislation, which was voted down by the Liberals last year in the House of Commons, included amendments to the Criminal Code that included prioritizing public safety in bail decisions. “What happened to this individual (Steffers) was heinous,” said Calgary Midnapore MP Stephanie Kusie. “This shouldn’t be allowed to happen.” King said many people who commit one offence never recommit. “The criminal justice system, in particular corrections in the courts, have a hard time dealing with those repeat offenders.” Mehingen was last convicted in February 2025 for failing to comply with her release conditions. She’s due back in court June 3.
