Threats Made Against Idaho Judge Following Sentencing of Former BYU Athlete

() 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.