A Colorado judge has dismissed attempted child kidnapping charges against 34-year-old registered sex offender Solomon Galligan, citing his mental incompetence and the unlikelihood of restoration. Galligan was arrested in April 2024 after Aurora Police said he tried to grab a boy at Black Forest Hills Elementary School.
Defense attorneys argued, and prosecutors agreed, that under state law the court was required to drop the case if a defendant is deemed incompetent with no foreseeable path to regaining competency. Medical evaluations have found Galligan suffers from chronic mental and developmental disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with similar rulings leading to at least four felony case dismissals since 2018.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley called the outcome troubling, noting the law leaves gaps in public safety. Galligan has been placed under a 90-day civil commitment — the maximum allowed — after which medical professionals will decide his status, without court oversight or victim notification requirements.
Both prosecution and defense attorneys urged lawmakers to reform the statute. Victims’ families expressed frustration, with parent Dante White pledging to work with legislators to close what he called dangerous gaps in the system.
