Springfield Man Convicted of Molesting Family Friend's Child

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Springfield man is convicted of sex crimes against a child.

John Manuel Galvan, 58, was convicted Thursday of Statutory Sodomy and Child Molestation. The verdict came after a 3-day jury trial; deliberations took about four hours.

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson says Galvan inappropriately touched a six-year-old victim in 2009. He was a family friend of the victim's family and was living with the victim's mother at the time.

Patterson says it wasn't until 2011 that the victim reported the abuse, because she was too scared to come forward.

The victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center where she gave a full disclosure regarding the abuse during that forensic interview. The victim, now 9 years old, testified at the trial.

Galvan has had prior felony convictions for distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Sentencing is set for November 2, 2012 at 2:45 p.m. Galvan could face 10-30 years for Statutory Sodomy and 5-15 years for Child Molestation.