The father of a boy who died in a rafting accident two months ago was formally charged Friday in the death of his son. See What Gallegos' Family Says About Abuse Charges Paul Gallegos, 30 (pictured, left), was charged with child abuse resulting in death, child abuse resulting in bodily injury, and use of a controlled substance. Gallego's 11-year-old son Keith drowned during a fishing trip with his stepbrother on the South Platte River on March 28. Prosecutors said that Gallegos was on methamphetamine when he placed Keith and his stepbrother Anthony in a toy raft, without life-jackets, and set them off into a river that is used mainly by highly-skilled rafters. Because he could not fit into the raft, which was 3 feet wide by 5 feet long, Gallegos followed the boys on a road that paralleled the river, authorities said. The two boys were alone when their plastic raft entered rough rapids, hit a rock and capsized, throwing the boys into 50-degree water. Gallegos attempted to rescue the two boys by going down the steep bank separating the dirt path and the river, but he slid on large rocks and broke his leg. "Unable to swim, wearing heavy boots and without a life preserver, Keith was carried approximately one-half mile downstream, where his body became lodged on a rock. There it was seen by a passing fisherman, who summoned aid from nearby kayakers," the indictment read. Anthony was able to swim to shore, where a fisherman spotted him pale and vomiting. Blood tests taken later that night showed a high level of methamphetamine in Paul's Gallego's system, authorities said. If convicted, Gallegos face a mandatory minimum sentence of 16 years in prison and a maximum of 48 years in prison. Previous Stories:

• April 13, 2001: Grand Jury Convenes For Father Accused In Boy's Rafting Death
• April 6, 2001: Affidavit Says Boys Were Rafting Alone
• April 4, 2001: Father Of Rafting Victim Faces Possible Charges
• March 29, 2001: Boy Dies After Rafting Accident