The former owner of a dog day-care business in Salt Lake City who pleaded guilty to sexually molesting a teenage boy and harming two others was given the maximum possible sentence Monday.
Blaine Jay Tracy, 40, was sentenced to three terms of up to five years in prison for two counts of dealing in harmful materials to the teens and one count of unlawful sexual activity with a 16-year-old boy. Each sentence is to run consecutively.
"I simply cannot let you harm any more children," 3rd District Judge Judith Atherton said just prior to issuing the sentence.
In addition, Atherton found Tracy in violation of his probation for two previous convictions of issuing bad checks and sentenced him to the full term of up to five years in prison for each with credit for time served.
Tracy ran Lucky Dogs Resort at 255 N. 400 West. Investigators said he lured boys to his business by offering them drugs or alcohol, had them watch pornographic videos at his business and in at least one case had a 16-year-old boy perform a sex act on him.
The father of one victim said Tracy preyed upon boys who were in rehabilitation programs.
"He went after kids dealing with drug problems, befriended them and waved drugs in front of them, their known weakness," said the father, whose son was in drug rehabilitation.
Prior to Tracy's sentencing, his attorney, Gil Athay, argued that Tracy had made significant progress since his arrest while in treatment and it would be more beneficial for him to continue with that treatment rather than being sent off to prison for a long time. Tracy was "committed to religion" again and was a "substantially different person" than he was just seven months ago, he said.
But the father told Atherton he didn't want to see any more families hurt.
"I don't think a couple of months of sex abuse classes will fix him," he said. "I'm hoping you hear my plea to help another father from being in my shoes." A tearful Tracy also addressed the court and at one point turned to the crowd to apologize to the father.
"I am deeply sorry for my behavior, for the selfishness my actions have displayed," he said. " . . . I am very sorry. There is no excuse. I hope someday you and your son can forgive me. I really do."
But noting that Tracy had three prior convictions since 1990, Atherton said that he had "crossed that line repeatedly" and sentenced him to prison.
Outside the courtroom, the father said he was pleased with the sentence.
"I think sick people are sick people and I think they need to be removed from society. And I think we got one today," he said.
E-MAIL: preavy@desnews.com