TS - Investigating deputy speaks out on molest case - Feb 13, 2004

Investigating deputy speaks out on molest case
By Chris Durant The Times-Standard
February 13, 2004

EUREKA -- One of the deputies who investigated the case of a man who molested a girl over the course of six or seven years has spoken out against the single felony count to which the man entered a guilty plea -- and against Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Paul Gallegos.

On Jan. 6, Pedro Martinez-Hernandez, 39, entered a guilty plea to one felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child and a misdemeanor charge of providing false identification to a police officer. He was arrested outside of his home Dec. 24.

He was sentenced to the maximum term under that charge, 16 years in prison, Feb. 3.

"Hernandez was a guy who should have been locked up for life," stated Humboldt County Sheriff's Deputy Troy Garey in a "Safety Yes! Recall Gallegos" press release.

Garey was one of the investigating deputies in the case.

"I have been having a hard time getting to sleep thinking about what this guy did to this girl and then Gallegos let him cop to a single charge," Garey stated. "There's no excuse for Gallegos allowing this predator to plead to one count."

The Sheriff's Department has said that the investigating deputies determined there were more than 2,500 individual counts of sexual behavior.

Gallegos said that Martinez-Hernandez is no longer a threat to the community because he is now in prison.

"There's no one more committed to the safety of this community than me," Gallegos said.

The Martinez-Hernandez case has been used by one of Gallegos' opponents, Gloria Albin Sheets, and by proponents of the recall as an example of Gallegos being soft on crime.

Gallegos said that his opponents are keeping the case in the news.

"I don't know if Gallegos read the case file and was just there for the headline, or if he even understands that a district attorney is supposed to prosecute violators of the law and protect the rights of victims," Garey wrote. "I know this much, he never bothered to talk to me or anyone else before he mishandled this in court, and in my opinion the victim had no voice in these proceedings."

Article Last Updated: Friday, February 13, 2004 - 1:50:29 PM PST

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...a copy of this article is also at watchpaul-articles
TS - Investigating deputy speaks out on molest case - Feb 13, 2004
Gallegos v. Martinez-Hernandez