Gary Lee Hale, 53, on Dec. 21 pleaded no contest to both charges and received two 15-year suspended sentences, to run concurrently, according to court records. As part of the pleading, Hale must register as a sex offender, court records indicate.
Hale was first charged in August after the victim in the case described to her mother what Hale allegedly did to her. The girl's mother took her to Sequoyah Memorial Hospital in Sallisaw, where she was interviewed by police. The girl told police that Hale told her not to tell anyone about the incidents.
During an Aug. 5 medical examination in Tulsa, a nurse reported that there was apparent molestation that had caused injury to the child.
Hale was placed under arrest on Aug. 6 and booked into the city jail. When Hale was told about the allegations of sexual abuse, he denied them.
