Teen in Utah County pleads guilty to assault

PROVO — A 17-year-old boy who was ordered to stand trial as an adult pleaded guilty to six felony charges Tuesday morning.

Jerry Gale had been charged in 4th District Court with attempted murder and numerous charges of burglary and theft for assaulting a school counselor while attempting to run away.

However, as part of a plea deal the attempted murder charge was amended to an attempted aggravated assault charge. He took the plea rather than go to trial next Wednesday and Thursday.

After an Adult Probation and Parole review, which will be the same as an adult's, although there will not be an adult criminal history to consider, he will be sentenced April 22.

Multiple calls to Gale's attorney were not returned Tuesday.

Gale had been at the Heritage School in Provo, a sub-acute psychiatric treatment facility for adolescents, when he ran away on Sept. 1.

He and a friend led the school's runaway team to Fat Cats, a bowling alley and eatery at 1200 N. University Ave., in Provo, then across the street to a nearby apartment complex.

While there, they hid in the laundry room under a table.

An approaching school officer said he found the two boys, who then pointed a gun at him and hit him several times in the head.

The man doesn't remember all that happened, and by the time police arrived, the boys had fled.

The boys were arrested the next day by the Provo River Trail.

Although he initially started the process in juvenile court, because of the severe nature of the original charges, Gale was bound over to be tried as an adult.

He has been in the Utah County Jail since September on $10,000 cash-only bail.

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