Inmate pleads not guilty to tossing boiling water on prisoner

A Freeborn County Jail inmate accused of throwing boiling water into another inmate’s face last month pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Patricio Galvan, 39, of Albert Lea, faces one count of aggravated first-degree witness tampering, one count of first-degree assault and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In court Monday, he invoked his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.

According to court documents, Galvan threw 20 ounces of hot water into another inmate’s face and punched him several times in the face on Sept. 30 while in the common area of the jail.

The victim, whose son was scheduled to testify against Galvan in a separate court hearing, suffered burns to his neck, face and shoulder.

Court records state Galvan reportedly admitted he had received a witness list naming the victim’s son as a witness in the case and that he tried to talk to the victim about it.

Galvan said things didn’t go well and the victim allegedly threatened to harm him.

The incident was reportedly captured on a video camera in the jail.

The trial date has not been set.

Galvan remains in custody on a $200,000 unconditional bail.

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