Though the Galvan’s both deny (for the first time) that they were youth pastors in their depositions, below is an article from the Valley Morning Star in November, 2007 showing Richard and Sonia Galvan were both interviewed as the acknowledged Youth Pastors of the Northway Bible Church in Harlingen, Texas during all relevant times. There were also articles from The Brownsville Herald. Mysteriously, the articles (which were all searchable on google/yahoo) have since been removed after the lawsuit was filed- assumptively at the request of the Galvans. You can view articles that have been removed here
Along with the articles, the Crews’s provided written affidavits from the Pastor of Northway Bible Church, two former board members, a former youth member, and a church member whose children were a part of the youth group. They all stated under oath in sworn affidavits that the article from the Valley Morning Star was true and correct, and that Richard Galvan and Sonia Galvan acted as youth ministers during 2007 when the sexual assault took place.
The Galvan’s had four affidavits, their original pleadings, their amended pleadings, as well as their brief and responses to the Court of Appeals, and not once did they deny their roles as youth ministers. Only until the Crews’s filed their counter-claim and the Galvan’s non-suited their claims for assault, public disclosure of private facts, intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as the judgement ordered by the court dismissing their defamation per se claim did they decide to make these claims for the very first time.
Richard Galvan and Sonia Galvan also for the first time decided to tell a different version of the events. From their first pleading, all the way through the court of appeals, to them non-suiting the rest of their claims, they stated “this is false” in regards to the Crews’s allegations. During their depositions (which was after they lost their defamation lawsuit, and after they non-suited their remaining claims) they decided it would be a good time to blame the victim (Hannah) for the sexual assault. They both claimed and now say that the 100 lb. 17 year old high school teenage girl was the aggressor, and overpowered Richard Galvan in his office against his will. Sonia Galvan (who wasn’t even there) agreed with this version of the events, seemingly by believing her husband’s ridiculous story. They had over a year to tell this story, yet failed to do so and solely stuck to “this is false, this is all false”. They are simply trying to save face at this point by making up things that no reasonably minded person would believe. The Galvan’s quite simply put, are pathological liars.
Richard Galvan and Sonia Galvan also both admitted in their depositions that Blaine never threatened them or their children with imminent harm, yet the Galvan’s still sued the Crews’s for assault by threat. They both swore under oath when they signed their pleadings and affidavits, as well as asking for a permanent injunction, that Blaine threatened them and their children’s lives. None of this was true, it never was true, yet the Galvan’s swore under oath that it was. This is just one more example of the countless lies that they have told throughout this case.
Interestingly, the original lawsuit filed by the Galvan’s (now non-suited and/or dismissed) were regarding statements made by Blaine Crews. Richard Galvan and Sonia Galvan continued to show their maliciousness by solely deposing Hannah and not Blaine, which has been consistent with the nature of their tactics in this case. The almost one million dollar lawsuit filed by Richard and Sonia Galvan was an attempt to bully, financially damage, and silence the victim (Hannah) and her husband about the sexual assault committed by Richard Galvan. Throughout this case the stories and versions of the events have changed numerous times with the Galvan’s. The Crews’s allegations, timelines, pleadings, and affidavits have stayed consistent throughout the entirety of the case.
You can view the signed orders for fees and sanctions, as well as the judgement dismissing the Galvan’s Defamation Per Se here
Richard Galvan also admitted in his depositions that he didn’t have a college degree, nor did he attend the University of Texas, yet he has claimed that he did. This screen shot taken from google showing Richard Galvan’s website (which was created for paid advertisements and SEO) shows him advertising that he completed his degree at the University of Texas. Also keep in mind this website was created after the depositions. Chalk this up to another lie.
See below for article from The Valley Morning Star, as well as the full transcripts of Richard Galvan and Sonia Galvan’s depositions.
