Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — A judge in Idaho has been receiving violent threats after the sentencing of a former BYU baseball player accused of sexual abuse of a young child.
The Idaho Judicial Branch issued a statement, saying that court staff have been told that people are coming to “get” the judge. Messages and posts have been sent where people hope the judge and his children are sexually assaulted.
The branch acknowledged that criticisms of judges are “expected and fair,” but also said that these threats are interrupting the function of the courts and can interfere with the “timely delivery of justice.” They further stated that the court does not decide matters based on public opinion.
Candon Dahle, 22, was sentenced to a minimum of five and a maximum of 10 years by District Judge Steven Boyle, but he then suspended the sentence and placed Dahle on probation for eight years. He was also given a 180-day local jail sentence that began on Tuesday, according to local news outlet KSL.
After that, he will be required to complete 200 hours of community service. Dahle was initially arrested in February in Utah and charged with lewd conduct with a child and extradited to Idaho, but his charges were amended to two counts of felony injury to a child, a lesser charge.