Galella sentenced after reaching plea agreement

On Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Lincoln County Circtui Court, 23-three-year-old Vincent Galella of Merrill was sentenced, after reaching a plea agreement with the State of Wisconsin, in separate charges brought against the defendant in 2023 stemming from two alleged incidents with two different women, one in 2023 and the other in 2018 when he was still a minor.
The Sentencing Hearing for Galella started with Galella withdrawing a previous plea agreement he had reached with the State earlier this summer and replacing it with a very similar but slightly different stipulated plea agreement, which the court accepted.
The new stipulated plea agreement combined charges previously brought against Galella, first in May 2023 alleging an incident to have occurred the night prior, and then in July 2023 alleging an incident previously reported and alleged to have occurred in March 2018 when Galella was 17 years old and the victim 14 years old.
In the first case, Galella was originally charged with attempted first degree sexual assault, operation of a firearm while intoxicated, and first degree recklessly endangering safety. In the second case, Galella was originally charged with attempted first degree sexual assault - intercourse with a person under age 16 - by use or threat of force or violence, second degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age, and false imprisonment.
Under the plea agreement, Galella pled No Contest to an amended felony charge of false imprisonment [replacing the charge of attempted first degree sexual assault] and was subsequently found Guilty by virtue of that plea by Judge Galen Bayne-Allison and also pled No Contest to the felony charge of first degree recklessly endangering safety and was also found Guilty by virtue of that plea by Judge Bayne-Allison. The misdemeanor charge of operating a firearm while intoxicated was dismissed but read into the record for sentencing, all in relation to the first case or set of charges. Per the plea agreement, Galella also pled No Contest to an amended felony charge of 4th degree sexual assault [replacing the charge of attempted first degree child sexual assault - intercourse with a person under age 16 - by use of threat of force or violence] and was found Guilty by virtue of that plea by Galen Bayne-Allison, and the charges of second degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age and false imprisonment were both dismissed but read into the record for sentencing in regard to the July 2023 charges that date back to the 2018 incident.
Ultimately, Judge Bayne-Allison addressed the defendant directly during sentencing, saying, “You attempted to rape two women.” While he acknowledged Galella’s admitted problems with alcohol and substance abuse contributed to the situation, he also said those substances only serve to lower inhibitions and that the fundamental desire for such behavior needs to be addressed with the appropriate treatment. Bayne-Allison said he had reviewed and carefully considered all the documents filed in the case, including the AODA Evaluation and Doctor’s Report; the State and Defendant’s sentencing recommendation and defense sentencing memorandum; and the many character letters submitted on behalf of the defendant; and that probation is always the first consideration, however, he felt some level of confinement was warranted due to the seriousness of the crimes.
Judge Bayne-Allison then sentenced Galella to four years in state prison—three years incarceration with one year extended supervision—for the charge of false imprisonment, and opted to withhold sentencing but gave Galella seven years on probation for the charge of first degree recklessly endangering safety, with that to run concurrently [at the same time] as his jail time.
For the amended charge of fourth degree sexual assault, Judge Bayne-Allison also opted to withhold sentencing but gave Galella an additional two years on probation, to run consecutively [after the first seven years on the other charge].
The judge declined to require sex offender registry but maintains the right to require such registration in the future, depending on Galella’s future conduct, he said.
Galella was given credit for three days already served in custody.
Judge Bayne-Allison ordered Galella to write apology letters to his victims but advised him to wait until he had been undergoing treatment and better understood the reasons for his actions before doing so, said letters to go through the District Attorney’s office, as he is to have no other contact with the victims. He also cautioned Galella that he is to maintain absolute sobriety and spoke at length about his lapse in sobriety earlier this year—which had been a condition of his release on bond—and which put his case and his family’s resources at risk. Galella is not to consume or possess alcoholic beverages or controlled substances but may take prescribed medications in the prescribed dosages. During the nine-year timeframe, he may not go on tavern/bar premises, beer tents, or any establishment where the main purpose is for the sale of alcohol except for employment purposes. He is to undergo AODA assessment and treatment w/any follow through and must pay court costs and any applicable assessments, fees, and surcharges due the court, payable through the Department of Corrections, with the funds already on file to be applied to the court case for which it was posted, and he is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration and Substance Abuse programs. The Court directed the Clerk of Court to return the passport to Defense counsel on this case.
Galella will be in state prison until early Dec. 2027 when he will be released and on extended supervision for an additional year, and he will remain on probation through early December 2033.