In a case that has shocked Colorado and ignited outrage nationwide, a convicted sex offender—who now identifies as a woman—will not face trial after allegedly attempting to abduct an 11-year-old boy from a schoolyard. The reason? A highly controversial state law that many critics say prioritizes political correctness and bureaucratic red tape over the safety of children and justice for victims.
Solomon Galligan, a 33-year-old registered sex offender who now goes by the name Carmen, was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial following a chilling attempted kidnapping in April 2024. Surveillance footage captured Galligan sprinting toward a group of children at Black Forest Hills Elementary School in Aurora during recess. One of the students later told police Galligan smelled strongly of alcohol and had white powder on his face. Galligan reportedly grabbed a child but lost his grip after tripping over a blanket.
Despite the disturbing nature of the incident and his well-documented criminal history, the case against Galligan was dismissed. Under a 2024 amendment to Colorado’s already-criticized competency law, suspects who are deemed “permanently incompetent” and not restorable can have charges dropped entirely—effectively giving them a free pass.
This legal loophole has left local prosecutors furious and victims’ families terrified.
“We find the statute deficient,” said Ryan Brackley, Assistant District Attorney for Colorado’s 18th Judicial District, who prosecuted the case. “Someone could ask that she be put into a more long-term, secure facility, but because the criminal case had to be dismissed, that’s not something we have any control over anymore.”
Brackley warned of a dangerous pattern where individuals like Galligan end up in a cycle between the criminal justice system and underfunded civil mental health institutions without ever facing real accountability.
The District Attorney’s office confirmed Galligan is currently in a treatment facility, but expressed concern about his possible release. “The only way Galligan could be released is if a licensed professional determines they are no longer a threat to themselves or the public,” a DA spokesperson stated. But critics argue that this review process is anything but foolproof.
Even Galligan’s defense attorney acknowledged that the system is broken, stating bluntly, “We recognize that there is a broken system in the state of Colorado.”
Perhaps most damning is the testimony of Galligan’s own sister, Sarah Galligan, who said the community is unsafe with her brother out in public. She revealed that Solomon—diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as a teenager—has been cycling in and out of jail for over a decade, and wasn’t properly institutionalized due to a long-standing shortage of mental health facility beds. “It just really sucks he had to do something so eye-catching for everybody to see he’s not well,” she told reporters in April.
That “eye-catching” act has traumatized an entire school community. Dante White, father of the 11-year-old victim, said his son and classmates are still undergoing therapy. “My son wouldn’t even go upstairs to brush his teeth unless I was right there with him,” White said. “That’s not a way to live.”
White blamed Colorado’s underfunded mental health system for enabling what he calls “habitual offenses,” saying it’s a “huge oversight” with real human consequences.
David Exstrom, president of the Aurora Police Association, echoed that frustration. “My heart breaks for the kids. And then to see that he wasn’t held accountable for that… what’s the long-term impact on those kids’ trust in the police and judicial system?”
Galligan’s disturbing past raises even more red flags. In 2011, the same year he announced his gender transition on Facebook, he was convicted of sexual contact without consent and added to the sex offender registry. A disturbing post from that time reveals a man struggling with identity and mental health issues, stating, “I wake up all depressed and crying but in the end it’s gonna be totally worth it.”
It’s clear Galligan has long required serious mental health intervention, but the current system—crippled by ideological blind spots and a lack of resources—is failing both him and the public.
This isn’t just a story about one failed prosecution. It’s a cautionary tale about a justice system so tangled in red tape and social justice posturing that it can no longer protect its most vulnerable—our children.
