Sauk County ex-deputy charged for inmate photo misconduct

A former Sauk County Sheriff’s deputy who worked in the jail is facing three first-degree felonies after he snapped a photo of a half-nude female inmate captured on the jail’s video surveillance system.

David Galvan, 35, has an initial court appearance scheduled for Nov. 19.

When confronted by a Columbia County sheriff’s detective investigating the case this summer, Galvan admitted to snapping the photo and sharing it with another deputy, according to the investigative report. He told the detective he resigned from his jailer position with the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.

The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, filed two felony charges against Galvan for capturing the topless photo without consent and then for distributing it. A third felony charge was filed for misconduct in public office.

His attorney did not respond to emails seeking comment.

According to the investigation, Galvan first took the photo in June 2024. He sent the photo via Snapchat to a colleague at the Sauk County Jail, who is not named in the document, in July 2025. That colleague then reported the photo to a supervisor.

The victim, who was incarcerated in the summer of 2024, was upset when the investigating detective told her of the photo. She said she did not give Galvan permission to take or share the photo.

Galvan told the detective he thought the colleague he shared the photo with was his friend, though “apparently not,” he said, according to the report.

Chief Deputy Eric Van Den Heuvel wrote in an email to The Badger Project that the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office first learned of the allegations on July 1 and “immediately began discussions” to terminate Galvan with his union.

“The alleged behavior is contrary to the values and standards of conduct the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office expects and demands of its employees,” Van Den Heuvel said. “Those who violate department policy and/or state law should be held accountable for their actions.”

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.