Cache County man arrested for allegedly using numerous sticks to spank children

Booking photo for Charles Allan Olson (Courtesy: Cache County Jail)

LOGAN — A 43-year-old Newton man has been arrested and charged for allegedly using sticks to spank five young children and tying at least one to a chair. Charles A. Olson was booked Friday into the Cache County Jail, where he is being temporarily held without bail.

According to an arrest report, the Cache County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Olson after receiving a report from the Division of Child and Family Services that six children were being abused.

The alleged victims, ages 5 through 16, were interviewed by deputies. Five of them claimed being disciplined by Olson when they broke rules or when Olson became angry. He would reportedly use “spanking sticks,” made of wood, metal, or wire, according to a Probable Cause Affidavit.

One boy told investigators, Olson would make the wooden sticks and sand them. He stated that the metal ones, Olson would cut and weld in a shop.

Deputies wrote in the report, a young girl told investigators that Olson “had tied her to a bar stool in the garage,” with paracord that he would use to make whips.  She said, he would often give them a spanking for each item that was not cleaned up off of the floor.

The alleged victim described how Olson tied her hands to the bottom of the stool on one side and her feet to the bottom on the other side, forcing her to bend over the stool and that he did this to keep her still. She stated that Charles used to spank her with his hand, however it hurt him so he started using sticks.

Another child claimed that if she did not bend over correctly that Olson would hit her on the back or legs. She stated that they could receive up to 50 spankings at one time. She claimed that some of the sticks had names like Old Bamboo, Sammy Kablame, White Lightning, Egg Beater and Sold Truth. She also stated that she has had bruises on her buttocks and knuckles. The bruises would be purple and blue.

The girl told investigators she didn’t think Olson meant to hurt the kids all the time. She stated that he just doesn’t act very well.

Many of the children also told deputies about deep bruising.

Investigators questioned Olson on Friday. During the interview he “admitted that he knew what he had done was wrong” and that his mother had even told him that he was being abusive to the children, deputies wrote in the affidavit.

Olson was arraigned during a virtual hearing in 1st District Court Monday afternoon, appearing by web conference from jail. He was charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; and 10 counts of child abuse, a second-degree felony.

Cache County Deputy Attorney Clark Harms filed a motion, requesting Olson be refused bail. He asked for a detention hearing to be set, when he can argue the motion.

Defense attorney Wayne Caldwell asked for Olson to be released so he could maintain his employment. He said there were some discrepancies with the evidence and some of the charges didn’t match the alleged victim’s statements.

Judge Angela Fonnesbeck said cases like Olson’s are always difficult to make decisions on without reviewing the motions. She ordered Olson to remain in jail and appear for a detention hearing March 8.

Olson didn’t speak during Monday’s video arraignment. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.


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5 Comments

  • Bo March 1, 2021 at 10:33 am Reply

    You can’t even realistically refer to what this awful man was doing as “spanking.” Call it what it is, he was beating them.

    • LD March 1, 2021 at 8:23 pm Reply

      You are so right.

  • Elisabeth Evans March 3, 2021 at 2:01 am Reply

    Why were these children in the same house as he was??

    • Don March 9, 2021 at 10:22 am Reply

      They are his kids.

      The article doesn’t say in order to protect the identity of the victims.

  • John October 11, 2021 at 4:55 pm Reply

    I cannot believe this. I have worked with Charles for 17 years, although not closely. He always had to have things done his way, and anyone who disagreed with him in a meeting would be told exactly why they were wrong, and why his way was best. Don’t get me wrong; Charles was a very talented Mechanical Engineer and most of his reasoning was very sound. This is just awful. He will never work as an ME again. I did not know his family, although his first child was born on my birthday and Charles gave him the same name as me. No honor to me; just coincidence. Various members of his family have come to work, but they never talked to anyone or looked at anyone. Now we know why. I hope the best for them.

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