WEST JORDAN — The former president of Glade Candy Co. has admitted in court to repeatedly sexually abusing a young female relative over a two-year period.
Dale Paul Glade, 83, appeared in 3rd District Court on Thursday to enter a guilty plea to one first-degree felony count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The plea comes as part of a deal struck with prosecutors that could essentially spare Glade the need to spend the remainder of his life in prison, said Glade's attorney Gregory Skordas.
Skordas pointed out that the original first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child carried a mandatory sentence of six, 10 or 15 years — depending on what a judge decides. By placing the word "attempted" in the language of the charge, Skordas said, Glade now faces a term of three years to life in prison, with no minimum mandatory sentence.
Also in exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors plan to drop another first-degree felony count and a class A misdemeanor.
Glade is accused of touching a female relative, under the age of 14, in a sexual manner, while exposing himself during multiple encounters at his Salt Lake County home between 1999 and 2001. In court Thursday, Glade admitted to touching the genitals of his relative on several occasions during that time.
The victim's father said in court that he felt comfortable with Glade pleading guilty to one first-degree felony count, as long as Glade acknowledges at sentencing Aug. 9 that he committed multiple acts over a two-year period.
"Our daughter suffered traumatically over this," the father said.
Judge Royal Hansen said he wanted to hear an explanation and an apology to the victims from Glade when he is sentenced. The judge said he also wanted to hear from the victim or her parents about what the effects of the incidents have been for them.
Glade, a prominent Utah businessman, was elected president of the candy company in 1963. His father, James Vernon Glade, was one of the company's founders. The firm has since changed its name to Taffy Town and is mostly known for is production of salt-water taffy.
The now-retired Glade was once on the board of directors of the National Confectioners Association for several years and was its national vice president for two years. He was also active in the Salt Lake Kiwanis Club and served as president of the Utah Manufacturers Association.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com