A father shares heartbreak as his daughter flinches from touch after years of abuse by Idaho baseball player Candon Dean Dahle, who received probation.
In a small Idaho courtroom, a father’s voice broke as he expressed his pain, saying:
I can’t even hug my daughter. Touch repulses her. She cringes and pulls away every time I make an attempt to hug her.
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His daughter, now 15, was a joyful child at seven, like any other kid. However, for five years, she suffered in silence.
Never did she and her parents ever think in their wildest dreams that she would go through something so disturbing.
Candon Dean Dahle, a former Brigham Young University baseball player from Blackfoot, Idaho, abused her when she was just seven, and the abuse lasted until she was 12.
The abuse impacted her a lot, leaving her afraid of touch and haunted by memories.
The girl, brave beyond her years, spoke in court about the horrors she faced. She described how Dahle touched her inappropriately, sometimes covering her mouth to silence her cries.
With pain and disgust, she said:
Every day since I was seven, Candon made me hate myself.
Father of victim
The thing that hurt her the most was watching him play baseball, cheered by crowds, all while she suffered in silence. She carried his secret all by herself.
However, now, she’s fighting to reclaim her life and speak out about his deeds.
Her family also shared their heartbreak. Her stepfather spoke of her sleepless nights and vomiting from trauma.
Whereas her mother recalled her daughter’s stomach aches, now understood as cries from a body enduring abuse.
I asked if someone was hurting her, but she wasn’t safe to tell me.
Father of victim
Now, the family sees a counselor weekly, as they try to heal from the damage Dahle caused.
Candon Dean Dahle Gets Probation After Suspended Prison Sentence for Abuse!
Dahle, 22, was once a pitcher at Brigham Young University. He faced sentencing in Fremont County on August 28, 2025, after admitting to hurting the girl.
He faced charges of lewd conduct with a child, but took a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to two counts of felony injury to a child.
Later, the deal dropped charges in another county and spared him from registering as a sex offender.
Instead of prison, Judge Steven Boyce gave him eight years of probation. He was also given 180 days in jail that began on Tuesday.
Similarly, Dahle should also complete 200 hours of community service.
The family felt torn about the plea deal. They regretted agreeing to it, fearing Dahle might hurt others.
Prosecutor Lindsey Blake pushed for a long probation, noting the victim’s courage in speaking out. Dahle’s lawyer argued for a lighter sentence, saying much of the abuse happened when Dahle was a minor.
Dahle apologized in court with tears in his eyes. He said he was in counseling and learning how his actions hurt others.
But the victim’s family found little comfort in his words. Whereas Judge Boyce called Dahle’s actions “selfish and foolish.”
