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Police: 3rd woman accuses man of sex assault

Jeffrey Gallegos has pleaded guilty in one case
Gallegos

A third woman has told police that Jeff Gallegos sexually assaulted her, according to Durango Police Department Detective Burke Baldwin.

This development is a big break, say police, who have been investigating Gallegos for 18 months since he was arrested for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman at the American Legion bar in April 2013. Baldwin said he suspects there are other victims.

In September, Gallegos pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting the 22-year-old woman at the American Legion, where he worked as a bartender.

For that crime, Gallegos is awaiting sentencing; under the plea agreement that he worked out with prosecutors, he might get anywhere from probation to 12 years in prison depending on what District Court Judge William Herringer decides at a sentencing hearing next month.

Assistant District Attorney Christian Champagne said his office worked out the plea agreement before the other two women spoke to police.

Detective Baldwin said the third woman approached police last week. She told them that the assault took place within the last three years, which is within the statute of limitations, Baldwin said.

Baldwin said the case involving the third woman is open and police are investigating.

But, he said, much rests on the wishes of the victim, who is unsure whether she wants to press charges or testify at Gallegos’ sentencing hearing in December.

In October, The Durango Herald reported that a second woman, Susan Leventhal, had made a formal report to police saying that she, too, had been sexually assaulted by Gallegos about five years ago.

The incident falls outside the three-year statute of limitations.

On Tuesday, Leventhal told the Herald she was willing to go public with her story and be named because she wanted other women to know they aren’t alone.

“They’re talking about probation,”she said. “But he’s a serial predator. He needs to be stopped, and I think men like him count on the fact that we’ll be too scared and ashamed to tell police.

“With this stuff, I set a terrible example for my adult daughters, by not reporting sooner and living in shame. Even now, this is really kind of scaring me. I just have to do the right thing.”

Delayed reporting is common in instances of sexual assault. According to a 2005 study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, more than one half of sexual-assault victims wait years before disclosing their ordeals.

Baldwin said if anyone has been the victim of sexual assault, police are interested in talking to them – no matter when the assault occurred or the identity of the assailant.

cmcallister@durangoherald.com



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