The long-delayed case against Ron Galatolo, the embattled former San Mateo County Community College District chancellor facing 23 felony counts, will now be moving forward with a Criminal Grand Jury indictment.
Preliminary hearing — a key step to prove probable cause before a criminal case goes to trial — was scheduled as early as January, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said previously, but was continually pushed back. The DA’s Office chose to proceed with a grand jury indictment because of those delays, Wagstaffe said, with the hopes of speeding the process along.
“It’s a very simple, singular reason — it has been such a difficult time to get this to the preliminary hearing,” he said. “It’s always something, so we said let’s just simplify it, let’s put on a grand jury case.”
While Galatolo has been wanting to push forward, Wagstaffe acknowledged, he said Galatolo’s lawyer, Chuck Smith, had been busy with other trials, making continuances the norm. Smith was also brought into the case late and had to learn it, Wagstaffe said.
Both Galatolo and Smith disagreed, blaming the DA’s Office for the delays in preliminary hearing scheduling.
“This case was delayed for like about a year because the DA was litigating another issue with another witness, and so we kept having to wait,” Smith said. “This idea that they went to a grand jury for the defense not moving the case along is false.”
Galatolo suggested that the DA’s Office would rather bring the case to a grand jury, where the defendant does not have a right to present evidence.
“They don’t want a prelim in front of a judge, risking these charges getting thrown out,” he said.
Both Wagstaffe and Galatolo said they were looking forward to trying the case in front of a jury.
“We are excited about Mr. Galatolo getting up and talking to a jury. … He’s got much to answer for,” Wagstaffe said. “Both sides are avidly looking forward to that day in court.”
For his part, Galatolo remains confident that a trial will exonerate him completely.
“If I can get myself in front of 12 nonpolitical unbiased jurors, they will see the truth once and for all,” he said. “I am completely innocent.”
An arraignment is now set for Nov. 26.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.