Brown sentenced to 25 years in prison

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By Steven Martens | Thursday, March 15, 2007 4:03 PM CDT | () comments

TODAY: (Updated: 1:30 p.m.) CLINTON, Iowa — The parents of one of the young boys sexually abused by Dale Brown offered him forgiveness at his sentencing Thursday, but still asked the court to send Brown to jail for as long as possible.

The former Clinton child-care worker was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to sexually abusing two young boys in his care.

Brown, 19, of Momence, Ill., pleaded guilty last month to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The former Ashford University student and employee of the Ashford University Children’s Center was charged with sexually abusing a 5-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy at the child-care center in October and November.

Clinton County District Judge Charles Pelton sentenced Brown to 25 years in prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. Iowa law requires Brown to serve 70 percent of his sentence, or 17.5 years, before being considered for parole. After he is released from prison, he will be on supervised parole for the rest of his life.

First Assistant Clinton County Attorney Ross Barlow also asked the court to sentence Brown to consecutive sentences, saying the two victims and their families will separately deal with the abuse for the rest of their lives. Barlow said the parents of the two boys trusted Brown with the care of their children.

“Mr. Brown obviously violated that trust,” Barlow said.

The father of the 5-year-old victim, who was not identified to protect the identity of his son, opened his victim impact statement by saying, “I’d like to take this opportunity to forgive you, Dale.”

The man said Brown was a confused young man, and that he wished someone had taken Brown under their wing at some point in his life and offered him guidance.

“Unfortunately, it’s too late for that now,” he said.

The man said Brown had said in a previous statement that he wished there was something he could do to make it up to the victims and their families.

“I want you to know there is something you can do,” he said. He then paused to regain his composure, and said, “You can turn the rest of your life over to God and ask for forgiveness.”

“He will forgive you, and he will give your life a purpose. He will make everything better.”

The victim’s mother then spoke, saying Brown should be kept in jail as long as possible to protect other children.

Brown’s attorney, public defender Bruce Ingham, asked for concurrent sentences, citing his client’s age and the fact that Brown has no prior criminal record. Ingham said Iowa’s mandatory sentencing laws prevented the court from having discretion in sentencing, and sentencing Brown to 50 years in prison would be wrong.

Brown told Pelton he was not asking for pity, and that he understood what he did was wrong. He said he felt he could change if given a chance.

“With rehabilitation, I can change,” he said.

Pelton said Brown’s age, lack of a prior criminal history and the fact that Brown will be closely supervised on parole for the rest of his life after he leaves prison were factors in his decision to make the sentences concurrent.

“I think to do otherwise is unusually harsh,” Pelton said.

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.