Former BYU baseball player Candon Dahle is expected to marry this week, less than a year after receiving a plea deal that allowed him to avoid sex offender registration despite admitting guilt to two felony counts involving the abuse of a child. News of the wedding has reignited criticism online, where many argue Dahle's return to ordinary life has come far too quickly in light of the allegations against him.
The topic was recently discussed on Instagram by @justinthenickofcrime
Dahle first made headlines in February 2025 when he was charged in Fremont County, Idaho, with felony lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16. According to the probable cause affidavit summarized by East Idaho News, prosecutors alleged Dahle sexually abused an 11-year-old girl and covered her mouth during one of the assaults. Authorities also filed a separate juvenile case in neighboring Bingham County involving another alleged victim.
Rather than proceed to trial, prosecutors and Dahle reached a binding plea agreement during mediation. Under that agreement, the original lewd conduct charge was reduced to two felony counts of injury to a child, the Bingham County case was dismissed, and Dahle became ineligible for placement on Idaho's sex offender registry because the offenses to which he pleaded guilty are not registrable sex crimes. The Idaho Judicial Branch later explained that these terms were negotiated by the prosecution and defense before sentencing.
At sentencing, the victim described years of abuse that allegedly occurred between the ages of seven and twelve. District Judge Steven Boyce sentenced Dahle to an underlying prison term of five to ten years but suspended the sentence in favor of eight years of supervised probation. Dahle was also ordered to serve 180 days in county jail and complete community service. During sentencing, Boyce acknowledged that avoiding sex offender registration represented "a huge benefit" obtained through the plea agreement.
The sentence triggered national attention. Social media users compared the outcome to other controversial sexual assault cases involving athletes, arguing Dahle received unusually lenient treatment. The Idaho Judicial Branch later issued a public statement explaining that misinformation about the case had resulted in threats against Judge Boyce, his family, and court staff. Court officials emphasized that the judge did not negotiate the plea agreement and could either accept or reject it as a whole under Idaho law.
Now, attention has shifted again after online posts claimed Dahle is scheduled to be married on July 22 at an undisclosed location. Discussion of the wedding has spread across Reddit and other social media platforms, with many users expressing outrage that someone who admitted to felony child abuse is moving forward with a public celebration only months after completing his jail sentence. With some criticism being pointed toward his new bride's decision to marry a man with such convictions.
Detailed information regarding this case can be found at FLOODLIT.org