Galatolo jury hung on 18 remaining counts 

Of those eight counts, two counts of perjury related to failing to disclose gifts on government forms during his time as chancellor. He was also found guilty of falsely writing off a $10,000 donation the district made to fire relief efforts in Santa Rosa as a personal donation. 

The remaining guilty counts involved his personal life, including two allegations of evading registration fees when purchasing expensive cars and tax evasion on a Maui rental property. 

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office largely failed to prove its case against Galatolo misusing his influence to direct district construction project contracts to people from whom he received valuable gifts and shared financial interests, Smith said. 

“The government loaded up all its guns and shot them at Ron Galatolo, and for the most part they missed,” he said. “Their whole theory about his corruption and the way he operated the community college was wrong. They convicted him on personal stuff.” 

The DA’s Office did not immediately respond to request for comment. Wagstaffe previously said Galatolo could face between eight to 10 years in prison.

In the final voting process, there were at least four dissenting jurors on each of the remaining 18 counts, Smith said. He’s also hopeful that a judge will bring the guilty counts down to a misdemeanor. 

Galatolo was on trial for 27 felony counts of tax evasion, perjury, conflicts of interest, misuse of public funds and embezzlement. 

The trial began Oct. 29, and each side had argued their own distinctive version of Galatolo and the rationale for his decision-making. The jury was charged with deciding if the friendships and connections Galatolo maintained are genuine or strategically influenced for his personal gain. 

Galatolo is accused of directing district construction project contracts to people from whom he received valuable gifts and shared financial interests, allegedly misreporting tax information and allegedly trying to get the district to pay for his lawyer’s fees, according to the DA’s office. He maintains he has done nothing wrong.