Self-proclaimed anti-violence activist Dontie Mitchell was sentenced on Monday to 15 years in prison for carrying a gun to the scene of a deadly shooting.

This came after Mitchell, who was representing himself, went on a lengthy monologue when given the chance to speak. He claimed “hypocrisy” by the prosecutors by cutting “sweet deals with murderous gang bangers” to convict him.

Mitchell also faces more legal trouble, having been indicted last month on 20 sex counts.

Mitchell stood trial for his role in a Cohoes shooting in August 2023. He had gone to the area of 125 Main St. to confront Nalik Sealy because Mitchell did not like that youths that he mentored were hanging out with gang members. He and Sealy exchanged gunfire and Sealy’s bullet struck and killed Shieer Leggett.

Sealy was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in Leggett’s killing.

Mitchell was acquitted in December of attempted murder for shooting at Sealy, but convicted of criminal possession of a weapon. He is not allowed to carry a gun as a convicted felon.

Mitchell claimed that one of the youths he mentored had stored the gun in his car and he brought it to the scene because he feared for his life.

Mitchell made that claim again on Monday.

“What is the message about a victim, me, facing more time in prison for defending my life than what my attackers received?” he said.

He said he went above and beyond the call of duty because he believes these kids are redeemable.

“I try to do the best I can to help out the young people and the community,” he said.

Mitchell used a racial slur and expletives at times. Judge Andra Ackerman admonished him for disrespectful tone.

“If you disrupt the proceedings again, I will have you removed,” she said.

Ackerman also said she found it “abhorrent” that Mitchell went to that Cohoes scene carrying a loaded firearm because he claims he wanted to save some at-risk youth from the streets.

One of these youths had testified in court that he had Mitchell pay to have sex with him.

“I can’t believe you have the audacity to call yourself a youth mentor,” she said.

“You are the most dangerous in this situation. I will not allow your purported mentoring work to be used as an excuse to commit a violent crime,” Ackerman went on to say.