Jail deputy faces felony gun count

VERNAL — A corrections deputy with the Uintah County Sheriff's Office has been accused of providing a handgun to his adult son, who is prohibited from having a weapon because of a past felony conviction.

Denile Gale, 41, was charged as an accessory with one count of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony.

Vernal Police Chief Gary Jensen said his officers were called to investigate a roving fight between multiple people on Feb. 23. One of the participants in the fight — which involved the use of a kitchen knife, keys and a belt as weapons — was Brandon Gale, Jensen said.

At one point during the fight, according to court records, Gale is believed to have produced a 9mm handgun, loaded it, and brandished it. Gale, 20, denied brandishing the gun when interviewed by police. Gale told officers that the gun belonged to his father and he had it "because he was out shooting," court records state.

Jensen said a records check on Brandon Gale revealed that he is restricted from possessing a firearm until 2012 because of a prior felony conviction. The chief added that investigators do not believe Gale had the gun without his father's knowledge or permission.

"The belief is that Denile provided the firearm to his son," the chief said. "It doesn't matter what the purpose was, whether it was rabbit hunting or home defense, the fact of the matter is that we believe that he gave him the gun."

Brandon Gale is charged with possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person and threat or use of a dangerous weapon in a fight. A preliminary hearing wasscheduled, but the judge assigned to the case recused himself because of his professional relationship with Denile Gale.

Denile Gale is a corporal in the Uintah County Sheriff's jail division. Sheriff Jeff Merrell confirmed that Gale has been placed on administrative leave. Merrell would not comment on the charges or Gale's future employment with his agency, calling it a personnel issue.

"We'll be watching what occurs within the court system at this point," Merrell said.

E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com