A former El Paso police officer was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a decade of probation after pleading guilty to choking, dragging and punching his then-girlfriend during a night of heavy drinking, authorities said.
Joshua Anthony Gallardo, 30, pleaded guilty to one count each of assault impeding breath or circulation involving a dating partner and continuous violence against the family — both third-degree felony offenses — during a June 24 plea and sentencing hearing, El Paso District Attorney James Montoya announced in a news release.
He was sentenced to a suspended 10-year prison sentence, meaning he will serve 10 years of probation. He also received 500 hours of community service on each felony charge.
Gallardo was arrested on felony charges after he assaulted two people within 12 months, the news release states. One of the victims was his girlfriend. No information on the second victim was released.
He previously pleaded guilty to one count each of terroristic threat and harassment — both misdemeanor charges — on June 4. He was sentenced to 30 days in the El Paso County jail on each charge. The jail sentences have been completed, jail records show.
The misdemeanor charges stem from Gallardo making 552 unwanted phone calls to the second victim between September and October 2024, including leaving a threatening voicemail, the news release states.
The third-degree felony sentences are both being served concurrently, court records show. The convictions also resulted in Gallardo agreeing to voluntarily surrender his Texas peace officer license, complete the Batterer Intervention and Prevention Program, and have no contact with the victims.
Gallardo was an El Paso Police Department officer at the time of his arrest. He was fired from the department on March 27, 2025 — nearly two years after his first arrest for allegedly choking and punching his girlfriend, police spokesperson Officer Adrian Cisneros confirmed. Gallardo had been a police officer for nearly five years.
“No abuser is above the law,” Montoya said in a statement. “Our office will continue to work to hold accountable those who commit domestic violence, regardless of their position or profession. I also want to thank the El Paso Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit for their work on this case.”
Judge Patricia Baca of the 346th District Court presided over the felony cases, while County Court at Law 2 Judge Julie Gonzalez presided over the misdemeanor charges. The misdemeanor plea and sentencing hearing was held on June 4. The felony plea and sentencing hearing was held on June 23. Both hearings were held at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in Downtown El Paso.
Gallardo began serving his jail time for the misdemeanor charges on June 4. While in jail, he pleaded guilty to the felony charges as part of a plea agreement to avoid a state prison sentence. The felony probation sentences began on June 24, court records show.
“After carefully weighing the facts of the case along with the potential outcomes at trial, and speaking with the victims involved, our Office felt that this resolution appropriately holds the Defendant accountable by requiring him to plead guilty and making him a convicted felon with no right to appeal while also preserving the full range of punishment of up to 10 years in prison if he violates the terms of his supervision,” Montoya said in a statement.
EPPD officer choked, dragged and punched girlfriend
Gallardo and his then-girlfriend went drinking about 1:45 a.m. July 9, 2023. Gallardo, who was off duty at the time, was “drinking heavily” about 1:45 a.m. July 9, with his uncle and other off-duty officers, an affidavit states.
The girlfriend, who was with a friend, walked outside the bar to wait for Gallardo. The couple got into an argument over Gallardo driving them home. The girlfriend refused to get in the truck, so Gallardo left. The girlfriend noticed she left her items in the truck and called Gallardo back to pick her up.
As they drove, Gallardo suddenly struck her in the chest with his fist, placed his hand around her throat and proceeded to choke her, causing her to stop breathing, the affidavit states.
The girlfriend asked Gallardo to stop choking her several times and to stop the truck, but he refused, the affidavit states. Gallardo was falling asleep as he drove, so the girlfriend decided to jump out of the truck when it came to a stop, the affidavit states. She saw a fire station and jumped out, but Gallardo exited the truck.
Gallardo grabbed her by her hair and started dragging her to the truck while punching her head, the affidavit states. People in the area arrived to help the girlfriend. Gallardo left the scene, but came back. He got out of his truck and attempted to grab and assault his girlfriend again, the affidavit states. He punched her head several times, as well as her nose and mouth.
Witnesses pushed Gallardo off the girlfriend and held him until police arrived.
Officer threatens to shoot up girlfriend’s house
Gallardo was arrested again on Feb. 27, 2025, after he allegedly got into an argument with a woman after she did not show up to a quinceañera, an affidavit states. The victims are not named in the affidavit, but the news release identifies this woman as a second victim.
He demanded to know where she was and began to threaten to go over to her home, the affidavit states.
“You made it worse than what it is. Now I’m going to your house and I’m gonna (expletive) shoot that place up,” Gallardo said in the voicemail, the affidavit states.
The victim reported the threat to police, stating she feared for her life, “especially since the (Gallardo) is an EPPD police officer,” the affidavit states.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former El Paso officer gets 30 days jail, probation for beating girlfriend
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
