The Honolulu Star Advertiser by Nelson Daranciang - May 28, 2011
The pleas expose Maui County and police to possible civil liability charges
A former Maui police officer pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to stealing money from a driver at a traffic stop and sexually assaulting a woman after she was released from custody — both times while in uniform and on duty. Kristopher Galon, 37, faces up to a year in jail followed by a year on supervised release and a $100,000 fine when a federal magistrate judge sentences him in September. Galon has also agreed to pay restitution, the amount of which the judge will determine later. He remains free on a $10,000 unsecured signature bond. Galon pleaded guilty to depriving the two people of their constitutional rights under color of law. His pleas expose the Police Department and Maui County to civil liability. The woman sued Galon, the department and the county in March 2010. In his plea agreement, Galon admitted that on Nov. 10, 2007, he stopped a driver for an alleged traffic violation. During the pat-down search Galon seized the man's wallet containing $1,561. Galon removed $1,550 from the wallet, returned to it the man and released him with a warning not to drive because he is in the country illegally. According to the indictment the man is a citizen of Honduras. Galon also admitted that on Aug. 19, 2008, a woman was walking home after her release from custody at the department's Lahaina station when he offered her a ride home. He agreed to help the woman with potential criminal charges against her and then sexually assaulted her.
A former Maui police officer pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to stealing money from a driver at a traffic stop and sexually assaulting a woman after she was released from custody — both times while in uniform and on duty. Kristopher Galon, 37, faces up to a year in jail followed by a year on supervised release and a $100,000 fine when a federal magistrate judge sentences him in September. Galon has also agreed to pay restitution, the amount of which the judge will determine later. He remains free on a $10,000 unsecured signature bond. Galon pleaded guilty to depriving the two people of their constitutional rights under color of law. His pleas expose the Police Department and Maui County to civil liability. The woman sued Galon, the department and the county in March 2010. In his plea agreement, Galon admitted that on Nov. 10, 2007, he stopped a driver for an alleged traffic violation. During the pat-down search Galon seized the man's wallet containing $1,561. Galon removed $1,550 from the wallet, returned to it the man and released him with a warning not to drive because he is in the country illegally. According to the indictment the man is a citizen of Honduras. Galon also admitted that on Aug. 19, 2008, a woman was walking home after her release from custody at the department's Lahaina station when he offered her a ride home. He agreed to help the woman with potential criminal charges against her and then sexually assaulted her.
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