Overview

• The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office will file a motion by the end of July to dismiss attempted kidnapping charges against Solomon Galligan under Colorado law requiring case dismissal and civil commitment when a defendant is deemed mentally incompetent.
• Galligan, a registered sex offender with a prior nonconsensual sexual conduct conviction, was found unfit to stand trial following a competency evaluation after his April 2024 arrest at Black Forest Hills Elementary School.
• Surveillance video of the April 2024 incident showing Galligan chasing and grabbing at an 11-year-old boy drove earlier parental outrage and spurred the Cherry Creek School District to replace its principal and strengthen recess security.
• Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky has launched a recall campaign against Democratic DA Amy Padden, accusing her of neglecting public safety by moving to drop the charges.
• Advocates and local leaders are calling for legislative reforms on competency standards and school safety protocols amid concerns that the legal outcome falls short of community demands for accountability.