Affidavits: Oncologist sexually assaulted staffers

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 surrendered 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 privatepracticeinEdinburg, in 2015. It was in August of that year that one of his staff,whowasalsoemployed 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 intoherallegation,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.

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