Tango teacher pleads guilty to assault
By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published September 4, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.
Updated September 4, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.
Tango instructor Charles Gale pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree misdemeanor assault Thursday to end the Denver County Court case in which he was charged with sexually touching a dance student.
In April, Gale, 55, was convicted of unlawful sexual contact for improperly touching a woman during a dance lesson at The Tango Club in the 3600 block of Osage Street.
But, after several hearings, prosecutors agreed to a defense motion for a new trial because garbled taped proceedings of the trial and jury selection were inadequate to present as a court record to appeal his conviction.
Further negotiations resulted in the plea, which ends the case.
Under the plea, there is no sexual component to the assault charge and Gale will not have to register as a sexual offender.
Gale's attorneys contended that his touches were appropriate and necessary to communicate the tango moves.
Defense attorney Iris Eytan said Gale maintains he did nothing sexually inappropriate and pleaded guilty to assault to put the case behind him.
He will be sentenced Sept. 26.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
September 4, 2008
4:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
wshugs writes:
It does take 2 to tango . . .
September 5, 2008
7:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
NWDengal writes:
shouldn't be in a dance class if u don't want to b touched:-)
September 7, 2008
11:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
klerfass writes:
On the crotch? With his fingers? After asking her to close her eyes? Or did he get trained and licensed somewhere as a sex therapist, and it somehow got missed in the trial? Well, let's hope SOMEBODY is making sure HE gets treatment somewhere...