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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who worked as a manager at a haunted house in Murray was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing young boys, some of whom he met through his position at the haunted house.
Chandler James Bartell, 25, was sentenced on Monday to 10 years to life in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony; and 15 years to life in prison for one count of sodomy of a child, a first-degree felony. Third District Judge Patrick Corum ruled the sentences will run consecutively, so Bartell will serve at least 35 years in prison.
"Mr. Bartell, like most skilled predators, knows vulnerability — he senses it, he recognizes it, he takes advantage of it," the judge said.
Forum said Bartell's behavior would have continued if people hadn't put an end to it. The charges for aggravated sexual abuse of a child "warrant 15 to life" in prison, the judge said, but he did not want to impose the same sentence for each victim. Corum said the behavior resulting in the aggravated sexual abuse of a child charges is "nauseating and horrifying" but the sodomy charge was different, and proportionality is important.
The three named victims in the case and family members of the victims spoke at the sentencing. One of the three victims asked to speak to a closed courtroom, and anyone who did not need to be in the room was asked to leave.
One boy said he worked at the haunted house with his mom and he thinks that made it easier for Bartell to get closer to him. He spoke about extended hugs from Bartell that were "very uncomfortable." He said Bartell would have him sleep in the same bed with him at times, and he didn't feel comfortable with that but was scared because Bartell was aggressive.
Another boy said Bartell would come into his room and force him to take his clothes off and then give him a long hug. This boy also said Bartell was aggressive and that one time the man "slammed (him) against the wall," with his back hitting light switches, and shot an Airsoft gun at him from a few feet away. He said he has tried to forget most of his interactions with Bartell.
Family members of the victims talked about how the abuse impacted their entire family, including a sister who said she noticed "weird and sexual behaviors" like Bartell and her brother spooning on the couch.
"I felt so helpless all the time. I knew he was a dangerous person and I just felt ignored because nobody listened to me," she said.
One mom said she saw him as a "big brother figure" but can see now that was just an excuse.
"I can't believe that I didn't see these things going on," she said.
The charging documents filed against Bartell in July 2021 allege the boys each reported multiple instances of sexual abuse and that evidence suggests Bartell has a "lengthy history of sexually abusing young boys." In exchange for guilty pleas on Aug. 18, prosecutors dismissed 18 additional felony counts, including 11 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Samuel Sutton said there was evidence to support claims from three victims and they believe there is a fourth victim, although there was not enough evidence to bring charges related to that victim to trial. He also said there is a fifth boy who believes he would have been Bartell's next victim.
"This case is, I think, the most aggravated that I have handled in my career," Sutton said.
He said the amount of manipulation and controlling behavior in this case is "among the worst of the worst" and Bartell is a "very dangerous person."
Bartell's attorney, Michael Peterson, said his client accepted the plea because he was insistent that the victims not need to be put on the witness stand. He said an expert found Bartell could be helped with therapeutic intervention.
Bartell apologized to the victims in the courtroom.
"I've come to recognize the vast amount of emotional damage that I caused many individuals and many families," he said.
Bartell said he has had time to reflect in the 800 days he has already been incarcerated, and said he doesn't expect the boys to forgive him but hopes they know he is sorry.
The documents say there were also allegations of sexual misconduct by Bartell with boys at a Boy Scout camp where he worked as a counselor, but no charges stemming from those allegations have been filed against Bartell.
