A Lafourche Parish jury convicted a Cut Off man today on child cruelty charges following a jury trial in a local courtroom.
District Attorney Kristine Russell announced the conviction of Angel Galvan-Paz, 30, on charges of 2nd degree cruelty of juveniles. The jury found him guilty in The Honorable F. Hugh Larose's courtroom after three days of trial. Galvan-Paz now faces up to 40 years in prison with the conviction.
Assistant District Attorney Jason Chatagnier said the guilty verdict is a sign that Lafourche Parish is not the place to take advantage of children. “I am very appreciative of this jury sacrificing their time to serve on this simple, but emotionally difficult case,” said Assistant District Attorney Jason Chatagnier, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney Joe Soignet. “Child Abuse will not be tolerated in Lafourche Parish, and this conviction affirms this position.”
Galvan-Paz was arrested in February 2022 following an investigation into the abuse of a 4-month old child in his care who needed treatment for severe injuries.
During investigation, authorities learned that Galvan-Paz and his girlfriend repeatedly lied to law enforcement, state investigators and medical personnel regarding the injuries to the victim, giving inconsistent accounts of how the injuries occurred.
The suspect at his trial said on the stand that the child's injuries were accidental, but the jury rejected those claims. The victim had a fractured skull, broken arm and Grade III liver laceration.
Dr. Paige Culotta, an expert in diagnosing Child Abuse testified during the trial that the injuries sustained by the victim were caused by child abuse. The state presented that expert testimony to the jury during the trial.
“Obtaining justice in this case would not have been possible without the thorough investigation by law enforcement, and the dedication and expertise of Dr. Paige Culotta,” said ADA Chatagnier. “Our children are fortunate to have medical professionals like Dr. Culotta and the staff at Audrey Hepburn Care Center to care for them in these horrific situations.”
The jury needed less than an hour of deliberation before delivering the guilty verdict.
Galvan-Paz now faces up to 40 years in prison.
