A Pearcy woman on parole whose 17-year-old son was shot in the face earlier this year, allegedly by another teen, was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to a felony firearms charge in connection with the incident.
Lessie Christine Augusta Galo, 37, was set to stand trial Sept. 27 in Garland County Circuit Court on two felony counts of possession of a firearm by certain persons and one count of criminal use of prohibited weapons, each punishable by up to six years in prison, but pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by certain persons while the other charges were withdrawn.
Galo has remained in custody since her arrest the day of the shooting on Feb. 14 with court costs expunged for time served since then. She had been classified as a habitual offender, having been convicted on Sept. 28, 2015, of four counts of possession of a controlled substance, theft of property and residential burglary and sentenced to five years in prison.
Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels said Tuesday he agreed not to prosecute her as a habitual offender if she pleaded to the one count of possession and received the maximum sentence. Her sentence will be served concurrently with the revocation of her parole from her previous convictions.
Keonte Deshon Rauls, 18, of Hot Springs, was arrested at the same time and initially charged with first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years, for allegedly shooting Galo's son. The charge was later amended to second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years, and Rauls pleaded not guilty to the charge on May 1. He has remained free on $4,500 bond since March 15 and a hearing to determine the admissibility of statements he made to investigators is set for Aug. 14.
According to the probable cause affidavits, on Feb. 14, shortly before 7 a.m., the Garland County Sheriff's Department received a phone call from Galo, using the name Angela Wallace, stating a juvenile male, her son, was suffering from a single gunshot wound.
Galo stated she was driving the victim to the hospital. While still on the phone, Galo was instructed to pull over in order for LifeNet personnel to assist and stopped in an empty parking at 1739 Airport Road where she was met by deputies and LifeNet, who transported the victim to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Rauls was also found in the vehicle and both he and Galo were brought in for questioning at the sheriff's department.
Galo told investigators she had been in the shower when she heard "a pop." She said she came out and Rauls told her, "I didn't mean to shoot him. I didn't know it was loaded."
Rauls reportedly told investigators he was sitting in a chair in the living room of the residence when he accidentally shot the victim in the face with a "snub nose .38-special revolver that was silver in color."
Shortly after 9 a.m., a search warrant was executed at Galo's 407 Ryan Road residence and a Smith and Wesson .38-caliber handgun and a Cannon Breach shotgun were both located on a bed in the master bedroom of the residence. The affidavit notes the shotgun had been altered "from its original manufactured state" because the barrel had been shortened to a length of about 13 inches. The revolver reportedly contained one spent round and four live rounds.
Investigators spoke to the landlord for the residence who indicated she had rented the home to a Lessie Daniels, which is another known alias of Galo. When questioned, Galo reportedly confirmed she lived at the residence and stayed in the main bedroom where the two firearms were located.
As a previously convicted felon, Galo was prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms so she was charged. She was also initially charged with obstructing government operations for giving a false name at first, but the charge was later withdrawn.
Local on 07/18/2018