Former state Rep. Rochelle Galindo was acquitted by a Weld County jury on Thursday of a charge that she provided alcohol to a minor who worked on her 2018 statehouse campaign.
“I knew that if I stood by the truth, and trusted in the process, that the truth would shine through,” Galindo, a Greeley Democrat who resigned in 2019, said in a written statement. “It took a long time, but the truth is known.”
Galindo was charged with one count of providing alcohol to a minor, a Class 1 misdemeanor, in May 2019 as the Greeley Police Department was investigating allegations that she sexually assaulted a campaign worker. No sexual assault charges were filed against Galindo.
In her statement, Galindo said the sexual assault allegations were part of a political witch hunt “following a personnel shake up.” She said she was in a consensual relationship with the alleged sexual assault victim, who was an adult.
“Lying about sexual assault and using a lie to score political points risks exacerbating victims’ trauma and sows doubt,” Galindo said in a statement released Friday.
Megan Downing and Kelly Page, Galindo’s attorneys, said witnesses who testified in the alcohol case “were on a mission to get even with Rochelle for firing their friend.”
Galindo was acquitted after a short trial this week. Weld County prosecutors declined to discuss the outcome of the case.
“At this time, we don’t have any comment about the outcome of the trial,” said Krista Henery, a spokeswoman for the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.
Galindo stepped down less than a year into her term representing House District 50, which includes Greeley, Evans and Garden City, amid a sexual assault allegation and as Republicans were attempting to recall her from her seat.
Galindo’s seat was filled for the rest of her term by Democrat Mary Young, who was selected by a nine-member vacancy committee. Young was elected to the post in November.