Dan Salem, the Carroll Taco John’s owner accused in May of offering a woman money for sex, will plead guilty in district court on Monday, court records show.
Salem, 61, of Carroll, was charged with prostitution for the crime after he allegedly propositioned a local woman. The crime is punishable by up to two years in prison.
The charge to which he will plead guilty next week is unclear.
Salem was arrested six years ago on a similar charge, but there is no public record of the outcome of that case. State law allows criminal charges to be expunged from official record if a judge grants a deferred judgment and the offender complies with the terms of probation.
Salem owns the Taco John’s franchise store in Carroll, and in May 2006 he allegedly offered to pay a woman $150 twice each week for sex at the restaurant, according to the Daily Times Herald archive. Several area women accused him of making the offers at the time.
Salem allegedly propositioned a local business owner for sex in May, but Police Chief Jeff Cayler declined to release more details about the crime. He has said the woman is the only known recent victim.
A Taco John’s spokeswoman said that the company might end its franchise agreement with Salem if he is convicted of a crime.
Spokeswoman Renee Middleton said franchise contracts include a provision that allows Taco John’s officials to end the agreement if the franchisee “endangers the brand,” including if the franchisee commits a crime. She said there is no threshold for how severe a crime must be to terminate the contract.
