Inmate pleads guilty to tossing hot water on another inmate

Published 10:06 am Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Freeborn County jail inmate accused of throwing boiling water into another inmate’s face in September pleaded guilty on Friday to assault with a dangerous weapon as part of a plea agreement.

Patricio Galvan, 39, of Albert Lea, pleaded guilty to the felony charge in exchange for having charges of aggravated first-degree witness tampering and first-degree assault dismissed.

Patricio Galvan

Galvan had pleaded not guilty in October to all three charges and had been slated for a jury trial this week in Freeborn County District Court.

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According to court documents, Galvan threw 20 ounces of hot water into the face of another inmate and then punched him several times in the face on Sept. 30 while in the common area of the jail.

The victim, whose son was slated to testify against Galvan in a separate court hearing, suffered burns to his neck, face and shoulder.

Assistant Freeborn County Attorney David Walker said the victim is now complaining of hearing loss and problems with his vision.

Court records state Galvan admitted he had received a witness list naming the victim’s son as a witness in the case and that he had tried to talk to the victim about it.

Galvan said things didn’t go well and that the victim threatened to harm him. The incident was reportedly captured on a video camera in the jail.

Galvan is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 17, 2012.

Walker said Galvan faces a presumptive sentence of 68 months in prison.

The charge in the separate case has also been dismissed as part of the agreement.