A McLoud man who was scheduled to go on trial last week on multiple felony counts for crimes against minors has instead entered no contest blind pleas to all of them and awaits sentencing.
Four felony counts were originally filed against David Paul Hale, 57, in Lincoln County District Court on Aug. 14, 2023. Those included three for lewd or indecent acts with a minor and one for forcible sodomy.
Court records show that on July 2, 2024, three additional felonies were filed in Lincoln County District Court against Hale, each of those for lewd or indecent acts with a minor.
On Jan. 30, 2025, appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge, Hale waived a preliminary hearing and the two-judge rule. The judge received the waivers. As the result of the state’s recommendation and result of a plea bargain, Hale entered no contest blind pleas.
Judge Bridge received the pleas and ordered a presentence investigation.
Two more felonies were just recently filed in Lincoln County District Court in a separate case on Jan. 27, 2025.
Both of those charges were for forcible sodomy. Appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge on the same day, Hale entered a no contest blind plea on each charge.
The judge received the pleas, ordered a PSI and has scheduled sentencing in both cases and on all nine charges for 1:30 p.m. March, 21, 2025.
In the initial charges filed against Hale on Aug. 14, 2023 he is accused of committing those crimes between Feb. 4, 2023 and July 17, 2023 with minors 10 and 15 years old. One of those counts states he required one of the minors to view obscene material, child pornography by showing a video of himself committing a lewd act with another minor.
The two forcible sodomy counts filed on Jan. 27 this year, accuse Hale of committing those crimes between Jan. 6, 2021 and Jan. 5, 2022 with a victim under 16 years old.
Supplemental information filed in the case by Assistant District Attorneys Kelly Trimble and Lori McConnell shows Hale was previously convicted on Feb. 3, 2023 in Lincoln County District Court of felony child abuse.
Court records further show that on Feb. 3, 2023, as the result of a plea agreement, Hale entered a no contest plea and former District Judge Traci Soderstrom sentenced him to five years in the Department of Corrections with all time suspended.
On Dec. 7, 2023 prosecutors filed a motion to revoke. District Judge John Canavan on March 5, 2024 ruled that Hale had violated the terms and conditions of his probation and revoked his sentence in full.