Zia Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Abuse Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Dale Dominic Galvan, 40, an enrolled member of the Zia Pueblo, pled guilty today in federal court to a felony child abuse charge. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Galvan will be sentenced within the range of six to 24 months in federal prison.

Galvan was indicted on May 12, 2015, and was charged with abandonment or abuse of a child under the age of 18 on April 15, 2014, on the Santa Clara Pueblo in Rio Arriba County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Galvan pled guilty to a felony information charging him with child abuse. In entering the guilty plea, Galvan admitted that on April 15, 2014, he exposed a two-year-old child to inclement weather by leaving the child in a vehicle for at least 20 to 45 minutes on a cold night with a temperature of about 29 degrees Fahrenheit. The child was dressed only in a t-shirt, without a diaper, socks, or pants and was found to be cold and shivering. Galvan further admitted that his actions caused and permitted a substantial and unjustifiable risk of serious harm to the safety and health of the child. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Northern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, and the Santa Clara Pueblo Tribal Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy B. Solimon prosecuted the case.