The District Attorney just delivered a “get out of jail” card to a transgender sex offender accused of trying to kidnap a young boy at a Colorado elementary school, and the community’s outrage is boiling over—what happens next could shake the state’s justice system to its core..
District Attorney Drops Charges Against Transgender Sex Offender After Attempted School Kidnapping
Parents in Aurora, Colorado, are furious after learning that Solomon Galligan—a registered sex offender with a rap sheet a mile long—won’t face trial for allegedly trying to snatch an 11-year-old boy from the playground at Black Forest Hills Elementary. The April 2024 incident rattled the entire school community when Galligan, then in the midst of a gender transition and known for a history of violent and sexual offenses, entered school grounds during recess and allegedly tried to abduct the child. Despite a swift response by police and the school’s immediate action to notify families, the legal system once again failed to deliver the accountability parents demanded.
Galligan was arrested within hours—matching the suspect’s description and already flagged as a registered sex offender. The 11-year-old’s mother publicly credited her son and his friends for their quick thinking, which she believes kept the situation from spiraling into tragedy. But as the dust settled, the community’s hope for justice was dashed when, in June 2025, a court-appointed doctor declared Galligan incompetent to stand trial. Under Colorado law, the DA’s office had no choice but to drop the charges, a legal technicality that’s left parents fuming and local officials scrambling for answers.
Repeat Offender Avoids Justice—Again
This isn’t Galligan’s first escape from legal consequences. In fact, it’s the fifth time charges have been dropped due to findings of incompetency. His criminal record—stretching back more than a decade—includes convictions for sexual assault, burglary, and assault, with a family history of chronic mental health issues and repeated jail stints. Each time, the cycle repeats: Galligan gets arrested, is found unfit to stand trial, charges are dismissed, and the community is left with the unsettling knowledge that someone with a dangerous history is still in the system, but not facing justice in a court of law.
Collin Rugg on X: "NEW: Registered s*x offender who tried kidnapping an 11-year-old boy during recess is set to walk free as prosecutors plan to drop the charges. 33-year-old Solomon Galligan was captured on camera trying to kidnap an 11-year-old boy in CO https://t.co/mVT6E1mNck
— Kim Guerino (@GuerinoKim) July 16, 2025
Many parents and community leaders see this as a glaring failure of both the mental health and criminal justice systems. The fact that someone with this profile could waltz onto a school playground and attempt such a brazen act—and then watch the charges evaporate—has left families demanding answers and immediate reforms. The school, meanwhile, faces tough questions about campus security and the adequacy of protocols to keep unauthorized adults away from children.
Public Outrage and Political Fallout Boil Over
The District Attorney’s office insists its hands are tied by state law, which requires dismissal of charges when a defendant is found incompetent to proceed. DA spokesperson Eric Ross tried to assure the public that Galligan will not be released, but will instead be civilly committed to a mental health facility. But for many, those words ring hollow, especially given Galligan’s history of slipping through the cracks. Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky, a vocal critic of the DA, has launched a recall effort against Amy Padden, saying this case is proof of failed progressive policies that put the rights of offenders above the safety of children.
Confirmed: Unstoppable duo of Solomon Galligan and AOC open up a 10-point lead in all presidential election polling for 2028.#AOC2028 #aoc #election2028 pic.twitter.com/HdEMoUpngw
— Senator Pimp Cane (@enigma99097) July 16, 2025
Community outrage has spilled over into calls for sweeping changes to state competency laws, tighter sex offender monitoring, and ironclad school safety protocols. Many are demanding reforms that will prevent repeat offenders with mental health issues from dodging accountability again. The political fallout is only growing, as local elections become a battleground over whether Colorado will continue down a path of leniency or finally get serious about protecting families and holding dangerous criminals accountable.
Sources:
KDVR-TV, KMGH-TV, KCNC-TV, KUSA-TV, Denver Gazette, The Blaze, New York Post