Inmate convicted of kidnapping, sexually assaulting newspaper carrier seeks parole
by Pat Reavy, KSL.com · KSL.comEstimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — A man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a young girl delivering newspapers more than 20 years ago is now seeking parole.
Terrance Scott Gallegos was convicted in 2003 of kidnapping and sodomy on a child and was sentenced to a term of 15 years to life in the Utah State Prison.
While the 12-year-old girl was delivering newspapers in Ogden in 2002, Gallegos lured her to his house and then dragged her into the home, bound her arms behind her back with an electrical cord and blindfolded and gagged her with socks before sexually assaulting her.
On Tuesday, Gallegos went before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole for a second time.
Today, Gallegos, 54, goes by Terra and identifies as a transgender woman. Gallegos told the board Tuesday that a struggle with gender identity combined with a heavy drug addiction led to committing what Gallegos now calls the "heinous" crime.
"I wanted to feel that power over her. Unfortunately, this has haunted me for the rest of my life. I am sorry for what I did," Gallegos said while often wiping back tears. "I am so sorry. There's nothing I could ever do to repay for what I did. I'm so happy I was taken off the street, away from drugs."
When asked about saying something to the victim, who was not present at Tuesday's hearing, Gallegos said, "I just pray that someday you'll be able to forgive me," while becoming emotional.
Gallegos on Tuesday described a "difficult" childhood filled with abuse while growing up in a "strict Catholic family," which Gallegos said was "not healthy for me."
"Not being able to be me in 1978 when I said something about it, it was unheard of, especially in my family," Gallegos said. "(I) never understood what it meant to be male."
On the day of the crime, Gallegos was high on meth and had visions of dominating a woman.
Since being in prison, Gallegos claims to have undergone treatment and counseling, learned how to have integrity, be held to a higher standard, take accountability for actions and has learned empathy.
"I can no longer stand in the foundation that had so many cracks as a child," Gallegos said, while adding that a change in mindset "has been magnificent" since being sent to prison.
Gallegos also asserts to have been clean since 2015, even though access to drugs in the prison for inmates isn't difficult.
Today, Gallegos contends to be known as "Mama T" in the cell block and has become a "beacon of light" for the incarcerated gay and transgender community, standing up against abuse and injustice.
The full five-member parole board will decide whether to grant parole.
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Pat Reavy
Pat Reavy interned with KSL NewsRadio in 1989 and has been a full-time journalist for either KSL NewsRadio, Deseret News or KSL.com since 1991. For the past 25 years, he has worked primarily the cops and courts beat.