GREELEY — Rochelle Galindo, the disgraced former House District 50 representative charged with supplying alcohol to minors working on her campaign was in court Monday in preparation for a three-day trial that begins April 7.
The pre-trial readiness hearing was extended to Friday after prosecutors from the Weld DA’s office said they would like a couple of extra days to secure subpoenas for two additional witnesses.
Although Galindo’s attorney Kelly Page objected, the request was granted. Galindo will now be back in court at 11:30 a.m. on April 2.
It will be two years in May since Galindo, the first Latina lesbian elected to the statehouse from Weld County, was forced to step down from her seat amid sexual assault accusations. Galindo resigned on May 12, 2019 after two female minors who worked on her campaign accused the former Greeley City Councilwoman of serving them alcohol and sexually assaulting them in her Greeley apartment.
Galindo was never formally charged with the alleged assaults; however, she was charged with providing alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor. She pled not guilty to the charge on March 2, 2020. Although a jury trial was scheduled for the summer of 2020, COVID-19 pushed back cases.
No progress to settle the case out of court has been made in the meantime, and she is now scheduled to begin a two-and-one-half day jury trial at 8 a.m. on April 7 before Weld District Court Judge Charles Unfug in Greeley.
Galindo was facing a recall attempt at the time she stepped down.
Complete Colorado has followed the case from the beginning. Previous reports can be found at the following links:
- She told the Denver Post in a written statement that the allegations against her were false.
- In December 2018, the Colorado GOP accused Galindo of illegal electioneering after she was seen on video within the prohibited distance of a polling place campaigning.
- After winning an uncontested race for city council in 2015, Galindo spent left- over campaign money on a trip to Las Vegas with an undisclosed companion.
- In October 2019, questions arose around Galindo reimbursing herselffor unclear legal expenses with campaign money.
- If convicted under Colorado law, Galindo faces between 6-18 months in jail and between $500 and $5000 in fines, or both.
