OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Investigators say a former Spring Lake softball coach exchanged lengthy and sometimes lewd text messages with underage female players even after being charged with raping a 13-year-old former player.
Thomas Galloway, 44, was charged in Marchwith first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison.
The alleged assault happened in 2012. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department said Galloway is accused of giving the then 13-year-old victim marijuana, alcohol and possibly other narcotics before sexually assaulting her.
However, more than 600 text messages detailed in new court documents obtained by FOX 17 reveal Galloway maintained inappropriate relationships with two other underage girls he once coached in both 2014 and 2016. Investigators say the texts show one of the relationships continued after Galloway was charged for the alleged 2012 incident.
Documents detail the messages leading up to Galloway's arrest in September when police say he violated his bond for a third time when he was spotted out drinking at a local restaurant with a 17-year-old girl.
"Did you tell them you [sic] seeing someone," Galloway texted the teen just weeks before being spotted with her violating his bond, appearing to ask if the teen's friends knew about their relationship. "...Do they know you have a guy."
"No they don’t," the teen replied.
Galloway followed: “Still don’t know what I am to you LOL.
Earlier exchanges show both the teen and Galloway expressed concern at times over being caught together.
"I miss you too... but are you sure that's such a good idea," the teen replied when Galloway asked her to meet him one evening in January 2016.
Galloway responded he didn't care anymore, but the teen answered: "...I'll feel awful if anyone catches us and something happens... but I want more than anything to see you, you don't even know."
Texts show Galloway made suggestive comments to the teen about her appearance.
"What were you all dolled up for," he asked her in August. "You looked bueatiful [sic]... I wanna spoil the hell outta you..."
Later in August, Galloway and the teen exchanged the following, appearing to discuss sharing inappropriate pictures.
"You ever send anyone else pics like that," Galloway asked.
"Not like that one," the 17-year-old replied. "That one was just for you."
Galloway responded: "Wait... Have you ever sent naughty pics to anyone? I hope not cause you know guys spread that (expletive) around and send it to other people. Don't ever trust anyone like that." Galloway then told the teen, "can't tell you what that pic did to me."
According to court documents, an off-duty officer spotted Galloway with the 17-year-old girl in September at an Allendale Peppino's. Investigators later seized Galloway's phone through a search warrant.
The text messages, in which Galloway and the teen would often share "I love you's," also showed conversations in which the two would discuss everything from their lives, to boyfriends, parents and even Galloway's own marital problems.
"She's such a (expletive)! Not sweet like my girl," Galloway texted the teen in reference to his wife. "Who would've thought we would find each other?? I am just pissed I wasted 20 years with her."
The teen replied: "yeah but I wasn't even alive 20 years ago. Wish you had a less (expletive) psycho wife... no offense."
The 2016 exchanges are similar to text messages investigators say Galloway exchanged with another underage softball player in 2014.
"Pretty sure your [sic] a lot more fun. And hotter," Galloway texted the other teen in 2014. "And your rack is as nice as hers : )."
Galloway said the teen needed to "keep him interested" by sending him pictures.
"Told her I'm hooking up with one of you this winter," Galloway then texted. "Whoever sends the hottest pic first wins."
Galloway was a board member and softball coach for a local fast pitch softball travel program, which involves girls between the ages of 8 and 18. He resigned after news of the charges against him became public earlier this year.
Galloway is due back in court Friday, Nov. 18 when a judge is expected to determine whether the text messages can be used as evidence against him in his upcoming trial.
His attorney argues the evidence is inadmissible because there was no reason for Galloway's phone to be seized in the first place.
Galloway's trial is set to begin in January.
