San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Leland Davis III told former community college chancellor Ronald Galatolo he showed "your readiness and willingness to cheat and lie" while denying the ex-administrator's bids for a new trial and to have his eight felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors.
The rulings came at Galatolo's July 31 sentencing hearing at the Hall of Justice and Records in Redwood City, Patch reported, citing the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Davis also imposed eight months in county jail, two years of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. Galatolo led the San Mateo County Community College District, which operates College of San Mateo, from 2001 until stepping down in August 2019.
A deputy bailiff handcuffed him immediately.
As we reported Aug. 4, Galatolo had faced a maximum of seven years and four months in prison after a jury convicted him in January of four counts of falsifying tax documents and four counts of perjury following a trial lasting more than 40 days.
Judge questions remorse
Davis' comments went beyond the sentence itself. He told Galatolo he had "extreme difficulties" believing the former chancellor was remorseful, according to The Almanac.
"I don't get the feeling you are remorseful," Davis said.
When Galatolo wrote in a presentencing statement that he should have been more "diligent," Davis corrected him: "The word you are looking for is honest, not diligent."
Davis ordered the community service be performed in a Latino community, adding, "I'm sure you know why." Defense attorney Charles Smith III told reporters the remark likely referenced excluded trial testimony about a comment Galatolo allegedly made about Mexican students not paying tuition.
Background
Prosecutors alleged Galatolo claimed a $10,000 charitable donation on his 2017 state tax return that was actually made by the district's foundation, failed to disclose gifts from construction firms on required financial disclosure forms and underreported the purchase prices of high-end cars to the California DMV.
The jury deadlocked on 18 other felony charges and acquitted him on one perjury count. District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe decided in March not to retry the deadlocked counts.
In June, the college district reached a $20 million civil settlement with four construction companies accused of providing undisclosed gifts to Galatolo in exchange for contracts. McCarthy Building Companies paid $10.5 million of that total.
No appeal has been reported. Galatolo's two-year probation term is underway.
