Reagan T. Fondren Acting United States Attorney Western District Of Tennessee | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
A Dyersburg man, Robert Galler, has been sentenced to prison in both federal and state courts for sexual abuse. The announcement was made by Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Danny H. Goodman, Jr., District Attorney General for the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District.
Court documents reveal that Galler, 52, traveled to Iowa in 2020 and returned to Tennessee with a victim referred to as Minor A. In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services received reports of sexual abuse at Galler's residence in Dyersburg. Upon investigation, three minor females alleged ongoing sexual and physical abuse by Galler over four years. Forensic interviews were conducted with the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
On September 11, 2024, Galler pled guilty in federal court to transporting a minor with intent for illicit sexual conduct. Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced him on January 8, 2025, to 300 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Following his federal sentencing, Galler faced state charges. On January 21, 2025, he pled guilty to one count each of rape of a child and rape in Dyer County Circuit Court. Judge Mark Hayes sentenced him to 25 years' imprisonment with lifetime supervision and placement on the sex offender registry. Under state law, he must serve the full sentence without parole. Both sentences will run concurrently.
District Attorney General Danny H. Goodman praised Assistant District Attorney Andrew Hays for his work on the case: “The goal of the Office of the District Attorney General is to seek justice on behalf of the State of Tennessee and victims of crime... This office will always prosecute crimes involving children with as much zeal as possible.”
The investigation involved cooperation between multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), and Dyersburg Police Department.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren also expressed gratitude towards Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hays and law enforcement partners who contributed to this case.
