Decision Made On DA Who Moved To Dismiss Charges Against Sex Offender

A Colorado prosecutor who moved to dismiss charges against a sex offender accused of attempting to kidnap a boy from an elementary school "will be recalled," a local politician confirmed to the New York Post on Monday (July 14).

“The conduct of the 18th DA over the past six months is beyond deplorable. This is simply the icing on the cake,” said Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky, a Republican, on the "effort" to "recall" Democratic DA Amy Padden, which she said "is well under way and will begin this week."

“The progressive attitude will not be tolerated,” she added. “While certain state laws highlight deeper issues in the state of Colorado, Amy Padden will be recalled for her part in not upholding the laws and punishing criminals.”

Solomon Galligan, 33, who is a registered sex offender in Pueblo County, was charged with one count of attempted kidnapping in relation to an incident in which he allegedly tried to take an 11-year-old boy during recess at Black Forest Hills Elementary School in April 2024. Galligan underwent a mental competency evaluation after his arrest, which determined that he was unfit to stand trial, with prosecutors claiming they had no choice but to drop the charges despite the suspect chasing after and grabbing the child as other students ran away in video footage.

“It’s super scary to watch,” said Dante White, whose child encountered the suspect, via FOX 31. “Especially seeing the perpetrator, the pictures of him. I would be freaked out if that guy touched me. It was an attempted kidnapping.”

Sarah Galligan, the suspect's older sister, had previously told 9News in April that her brother had been in and out of jail for 12 years and said she believed it wasn't safe for the community or himself to be roaming the streets. Sarah confirmed that her sibling was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at the age of 16 and previously deemed unfit to stand trial for prior incidents, as well as not being institutionalized due to a shortage of beds in mental health centers.

“It just really sucks he had to do something so eye-catching for everybody to see he’s not well, and he’s not OK to be out and be on his own,” she said in April.

Solomon shared news of his gender transition on Facebook in 2011, later identifying as a woman the same year he was placed on the sex-offender registry and was convicted of non-consent sexual contact.

“So im starting my hormone shots and i relly cant wait im on my hormone pills ive been on them for almost 4 months i wake up all depressed and crying but in the end its gonna be totally worth it you know what io mean im really excited my measurements are already changing and im super thrilled,” he wrote at the time.

Galligan was recently captured on surveillance video approaching students playing in a field during recess, at which point the children scatter and are heard screaming, "Stranger danger!" The suspect allegedly grabbed a boy, but lost grip while tripping on a white blanket he was covering, according to a police report on the incident.

The victim later told police that Galligan had white powder smeared on his face and smelled of alcohol. The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested by police officers at a nearby Walgreens.

Prosecutors for Colorado's 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office said, "We have not yet filed the formal motion to Dismiss" in a statement to the New York Post.

“We have until the end of the month to do so. The defendant is being civilly committed into mental health treatment," the statement reads. "However, we are legally prohibited from discussing the details surrounding his competency beyond saying that he’s been found mentally incompetent to proceed.

“When a defendant is found incompetent to proceed, we are legally obligated to dismiss charges. Our hands are tied based on the findings of competency. However, they are not being released to the public.”