WEST JORDAN — A judge sent the 83-year-old former president of Glade Candy Co. to prison Wednesday for repeatedly molesting a young female relative, terming the man's conduct "reprehensible."
"You have minimized the effect of what you've done to the victim here," 3rd District Judge Royal Hansen told Dale Paul Glade. "Your conduct is so wrong, I am not going to tolerate it."
Glade originally was charged with first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child, which can carry a sentence of six, 10, or 15 years to life in prison, depending on the judge's decision. Glade pleaded guilty instead to the lesser charge of "attempted" aggravated sexual abuse of a child, also a first-degree felony, but which carries a three-years-to-life prison sentence with no mandatory minimum time behind bars.
Another first-degree felony count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and a class A misdemeanor count of lewdness with a child were dismissed earlier.
Glade admitted in court that he touched the genitals of the girl, who was younger than 14 at the time, and exposed himself on several occasions between 1999 and 2001.
The girl's father on Wednesday described how his daughter suffered physical ailments in the genital area, including bladder infections, rashes and pain so bad it would make her cry, which baffled doctors despite repeated office visits and tests because the other adults in her life didn't know she was being sexually violated.
The father said Glade knew of the girl's suffering but never sought counseling until he faced criminal charges. Glade's behavior was legally and morally wrong, the father said: "He did it for his own sexual gratification."
The girl's sobbing mother told the judge her child now fears older men. The mother also said Glade's age should not prevent punishment: "He knew what he was doing. She was just a kid."
The girl also asked the judge to imprison Glade for the rest of his life.
Prosecutor Sean Torriente blasted Glade for comments he made during pre-sentence evaluations and denounced efforts to paint Glade as a "low risk" for repeat offenses.
Reading from a report, Torriente noted Glade had said: "She was a little flirt. She would do anything to show off her panties" and "She would throw her sexuality into your lap and I just weakened."
Glade also told an evaluator he didn't think sex between an adult and a child caused any harm to the child.
Defense attorney Gregory Skordas said Glade has been undergoing counseling and has made significant progress. "I don't know if we'll ever understand why he did what he did. This was a kid he adored. He never intended to hurt her, but he did and there's no excuse for it," Skordas said, adding that probation and counseling or possibly some jail time rather than prison would be a more appropriate sentence.
Glade said he didn't know why he did what he did. "I'm deeply sorry I've caused this tragedy in her life. I hope she will find it in her heart to forgive me," he said. Glade said when he was with the girl, the playing and teasing moved from a relative's affection "to something where I crossed over the line." Glade said he originally didn't think sexual contact between an adult and a child was harmful, but after being in counseling, he said he recognizes the seriousness of what he has done to the girl, whom he said he loved, and "it breaks my heart."
Glade, now retired, was prominent in Utah and national business circles. He was elected president of the well-known candy firm in 1963. His father was a founder of the firm, which has changed its name to Taffy Town. It is known for its primary product, salt water taffy.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com