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Posted: 4:27 PM- A Duchesne County businessman was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison for photographing a teenage boy engaging in sexual acts.
Brad R. Gale, owner of Gale's Office Supply & Books in Roosevelt and Vernal, tearfully apologized.
"I'm just extremely remorseful and sorry for what I've done," the 49-year-old said.
Under the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart, Gale will be on probation for the rest of his life after he is released from prison. He had pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman said his office has made prosecutions of child pornography and related crimes a priority because of the impact to the victims. Gale was prosecuted in federal court as part of Project Safe Childhood, which targets child predators in Utah.
Investigators say Gale sexually abused the 14-year-old boy for years. His alleged offenses included mailing nude and semi-nude pictures of the boy to another man and also offering him up as a sex partner.
Gale could spend time behind bars beyond the 15 years. He is slated to be sentenced March 29 in Roosevelt's 8th District Court, where he pleaded guilty last month to four first-degree felonies in connection with sexually abusing the boy.
In addition, he is charged in 4th District Court for allegedly abusing the child in a swinging leather chair at the Provo home of 76-year-old John West.
West pleaded guilty to watching the sex acts and was sentenced to probation and two weeks in jail.
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