Affidavits: Local oncologist sexually assaulted staff members

Dec. 11--Probable cause affidavits released Monday by the Edinburg Police Department shed new light on the sexual assault allegations against a local oncologist who turned himself in to police last week.

Dr. Eugenio Gerardo Galindo, 60, was arrested Dec. 6 on two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault, and Edinburg Municipal Court Judge Toribio "Terry" Palacios set his cash bond at a combined $20,000 for the three charges. Galindo posted bond the same day of his arrest.

Edinburg police first became aware of the allegations against Galindo, who previously served as medical director for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Cancer Center and has a private practice in Edinburg, in 2015. It was in August of that year that one of his staff, who was also employed as a cancer patient navigator for DHR, reported an alleged sexual assault to police that occurred in 2011. She was also a cancer patient of Galindo's and was in remission.

On one occasion when Galindo examined her, the woman told police he sexually assaulted her with his finger, according to the affidavit.

Through the course of Edinburg police's investigation into her allegation, police learned of another alleged assault against another one of his employees that also occured in 2011. In that case, Galindo "pinned her against a wall (in his private office) then started kissing her face and neck," "grabbed her breasts," and sexually assaulted her with his finger, according to the affidavit.

The investigation also revealed an attempted sexual assault that allegedly occurred in 2012 against another former employee, who "quit because of his unwanted sexual advances towards her," the affidavit states, which references an incident in which he tried to inappropriately touch her.

Galindo's attorney Ricardo L. Salinas did not respond to multiple attempts for comment.

Edinburg police spokesman Lt. Oscar Trevino said investigators have identified four victims "alleged to have been abused by the doctor in a sexual manner," and that police believe more victims may come forward.

When asked why it took three years since the first woman contacted police about being sexually assaulted by Galindo to press charges against him, Trevino said investigators wanted to build a strong case before filing probable cause affidavits and obtaining arrest warrants.

In addition to his affiliation with DHR, Galindo is affiliated with Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

In addition to facing potential criminal charges, Galindo is also being sued by a former cancer patient who alleges he assaulted her in October 2016 during a monthly checkup.

The civil lawsuit, which was filed Sept. 7, states that he pushed her against a wall as she tried to leave the examination room, then kissed her and "forced his tongue in her mouth."

"It took a lot of courage for her to come forward knowing that her name would come out and people would learn about the incident, but she has been in contact with other victims and so this lawsuit is not only about her but is also on behalf of the others as well," said the woman's attorney, Aizar J. Karam Jr.

The lawsuit notes that following the alleged assault, she went months without a follow up appointment, "suffered severe emotional distress" and "was very concerned because she no longer had an oncologist that she could trust."

Too much time has passed since the assaults for victims to file a civil lawsuit, Karam said, as the statute of limitations in personal injury lawsuits is two years.

"This is about trying to achieve justice for her and the others because it's not right what she had to go through as a cancer survivor and as a patient," Karam said.

In his response to the lawsuit, Galindo, through his civil attorney Ronald G. Hole, "denies each and every allegation" in the lawsuit and demands a jury trial.

Edinburg police urge anyone with information about any of these cases to contact them at (956) 383-8477.

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