Man charged with criminal sexual conduct

BY ART BUKOWSKI
abukowski@record-eagle.com

June 24, 2009 06:40 am

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SUTTONS BAY -- A Cedar man faces a criminal sexual conduct charge after an alleged assault at his home.

Mark Galla, 37, is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct causing injury to an incapacitated victim. He was arrested early Saturday and remained in jail Tuesday morning.

The alleged victim, a 20-year-old Leland man, told a friend he was assaulted Friday at Galla's home, Leelanau County Undersheriff Scott Wooters said. The friend called police, who obtained a search warrant and went to Galla's residence late Friday.

Galla was home at the time and eventually was arrested at about 4 a.m. Saturday. Eighty-Sixth District Judge Thomas G. Phillips set bond at $250,000 during Galla's arraignment on Monday.

The alleged victim was bleeding from the assault, Wooters said. He was treated and released from the hospital. It's possible the victim was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the alleged assault, Wooters said.

Police believe Galla and the victim corresponded for a time before the incident, Wooters said.

"It looks like they had communicated via the internet ... the information that we have is that this might have been the first time they met in person," Wooters said.

Investigators plan to examine phone and other records in an effort to gather more details about Galla's ties to the alleged victim.

They may also conduct a forensic examination of his computer, Wooters said.

A preliminary examination, held to determine if there's enough evidence to send the case to trial, is scheduled for July 2.