Man admits guilt in robbery, beating

A 19-year-old Spokane man walked away free Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to helping his friend rob and assault a Japanese exchange student from Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute in May and then using duct tape two weeks later to hold a different girl against her will.

Bobby Sam Galloway received a prison sentence of 130 days Monday after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault in connection with a purse-snatching incident at a bus stop on May 18 that injured the Mukogawa student.

Galloway was in court again Tuesday and pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in connection with a May 31 incident in which he helped his friends beat and kick another girl before pushing a 26-inch television onto the victim as she lay in the fetal position, according to court records.

Superior Court Judge Kathleen O’Connor sentenced Galloway to five months in prison for each case. But the five-month sentences were to run concurrently, or at the same time. Since Galloway has already served 137 days in the Spokane County Jail awaiting trial, his punishment was considered complete and he was released.

Galloway and his friend, 19-year-old Charles H. Garland, were originally charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault in connection with the May 18 purse snatching at a bus stop across Wellesley Avenue from the Shadle Park Wal-Mart.

The Mukogawa student, one of four who were boarding a bus, was wearing her bag with the strap secured diagonally across her neck and shoulder. She told Spokane police that Garland pulled the strap so forcefully that he threw her to the pavement, causing scrapes and bruising, according to court records.

The four Mukogawa students followed the suspects to a nearby home where several other witnesses identified both Galloway and Garland as the suspects, according to court records.

Two weeks later, on May 31, Galloway and Garland were at an underage drinking party at 1507 N. Oak when a female victim and 18-year-old Morgan Snider began fighting.

According to the victim, Galloway, Garland and 21-year-old Christene J. Garland then joined the fray and began beating and kicking the victim, who curled up into the fetal position to try to protect herself.

Galloway found some duct tape and clear packaging tape, Detective Kip Hollenbeck wrote in his report, and began wrapping the tape around the victim’s arms and chest. But she managed to pull the tape free.

“The suspects again began beating on (the victim) repeatedly striking her with closed fists and kicking her,” Hollenbeck wrote. “The suspects refused to allow (the victim) to leave. She said they were laughing and found the incident humorous.”

The victim, who suffered numerous cuts, bruises and abrasions, was finally able to escape. She told her mother, who convinced the girl to call police, said Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Eugene Cruz.

Garland is scheduled to plead guilty Friday to first-degree robbery in connection with the Mukogawa case.

Morgan Snider, the girl who fought with the victim at the later incident, is also expected to plead guilty to charges related to the May 31 incident, Cruz said.

Authorities have not been able to locate Christene Garland, who has pending felony warrants for her arrest, Cruz said.

As part of Galloway’s plea agreement, he has agreed to testify against Christene Garland whenever investigators take her into custody, Cruz said.