In a surprising development, a transgender individual who is a registered sex offender has escaped prosecution after allegedly trying to kidnap a child during recess at a Colorado elementary school. This bizarre situation highlights a controversial legal framework that has drawn heavy criticism from various corners, including prosecutors.
Solomon Galligan, who now identifies as Carmen, was evaluated and deemed mentally incompetent by medical professionals. This evaluation came after he reportedly tried to grab an 11-year-old boy at Black Forest Hills Elementary School in Aurora back in April 2024.
Given that the evaluation concluded Galligan can’t be restored to competency, the presiding judge had to dismiss all charges against him due to a recent amendment to Colorado’s competency laws, which have faced intense scrutiny.
After spending years caught up in the criminal justice machine, Galligan, now age 33, could once again find himself walking free among the community, raising alarms, particularly among victims and criminal justice advocates.
Ryan Brackley, the assistant district attorney for Colorado’s 18th Judicial District, expressed deep concerns. “We are concerned we may be encountering a revolving door situation in the justice system without any serious mental health care,” he explained, stressing that the system appears insufficient to handle individuals with such cases.
The 18th District Attorney’s office highlighted that Galligan is currently being treated in a mental health facility, yet must be released after 90 days under current laws unless professionals deem him a threat no longer.
A spokesperson for the DA added, “It’s crucial that prior evaluations are factored in; we want to ensure he does not pose a risk.”
Galligan’s lawyer expressed significant frustration with how Colorado handles such cases, calling out the system’s inefficiencies after the decision to drop all charges.
“There’s a clear problem within the Colorado justice framework,” Galligan’s attorney said, as reported by KUSA.
His sister, Sarah Galligan, also voiced her concerns to 9News, revealing that he has struggled with mental health issues for over a decade and that his presence back on the streets is unsettling for the entire community.
She recounted that her brother, diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at age 16, had repeatedly been found unfit for trial. Unfortunately, he hasn’t received institutional treatment due to limited resources.
A troubling shortage of mental health facilities continues to be an issue, as Denver7 reported last year.
“It’s just unfortunate that it takes such drastic actions for the truth about his condition to surface,” she lamented.
Dante White’s son was unfortunate to witness the attempted kidnapping and has since had to undergo therapy to cope with the traumatic experience.
“These kids have been forced to stay on high alert ever since the incident,” he said, noting how his son is now even frightened to go upstairs alone. “This isn’t an acceptable way to live.”
Echoing these sentiments, Aurora Police Association President David Exstrom stated: “What happened is a failure of the judicial system, and it raises vital questions about the psychological impact on these kids.”
Galligan first made headlines in 2011 when he announced his transition on Facebook and was registered as a sex offender that same year after a conviction for non-consensual sexual conduct.
In his earlier posts, Galligan expressed excitement about his transition journey, mentioning he was undergoing hormone therapy at the time.
Chilling security footage further showed Galligan sprinting towards a group of children, triggering panic as they shouted ‘Stranger danger!’. Moments later, he allegedly tried to seize one of them but stumbled on a white blanket, allowing the victim to escape.
Describing the encounter, the young boy noted that Galligan appeared to have white powder on his face and a strong smell of alcohol.
Law enforcement later located Galligan at a nearby Walgreens following his flight from the playground.
In past cases stretching back to 2007, Galligan’s defense counsel argued that his mental competency has perpetually been an issue, contributing once more to the current state of legal proceedings.
