Judge Hands Down Nearly 70 Years to Man for Almost Killing Man

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Weld district court judge sentenced a Thornton man late last week to almost seven decades in prison for beating a man unconscious in May of 2018.

In October, a jury convicted Michael Galusha, 48, of Thornton of: attempted 1st degree murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, second degree kidnapping, and criminal mischief. He was also convicted of three counts of crime of violence charges which are sentencing enhancers.

In May of 2018, the defendant drove to the victim’s garage in Frederick to confront him about a situation with the defendant’s nephew, who was also present at the time of the incident.

The defendant pinned the male victim with his car before beating him unconscious with a jack handle.

Galusha then stomped on the victim’s head, tried to run him over with his car, and ultimately left him for dead.

“The defendant made a series of conscious decisions that day that nearly cost a young man his life,” Weld Deputy District Attorney Ashley Fetyko said. “If his aim had been better or if the victim had not regained consciousness when he did, he would have been facing a murder charge instead of attempted murder. The defendant tried to kill the victim over and over and over again that night, and that callousness and violence, coupled with the defendant’s criminal history warranted a maximum sentence.”

Weld District Judge Julie Hoskins sentenced Galusha Friday to 69 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

The maximum sentence was 70 years in DOC.

Weld Deputy District Attorneys Ashley Fetyko and John Newman prosecuted this case.