Bloomfield child abuse case moves forward as mother agrees to testify against ex-husband
The trial of a Bloomfield man charged with felony child abuse that had been scheduled for early October has been rescheduled for next year, but the man’s ex-wife — who also faces a felony charge for failing to report the abuse — will meet with prosecutors this week to discuss testifying against her former spouse.
Joseph Bresch was charged with a first-degree felony count of child abuse (results in great bodily harm) in November 2021 by the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office. He is accused of causing significant injuries to a 2-month-old girl who had suffered more than 30 fractures when she was taken to the hospital.
Bresch’s jury trial is scheduled to begin May 20, 2024, in District Court.
Dustin O’Brien, chief deputy prosecutor for the District Attorney's Office, said Oct. 24 that he and other prosecutors were scheduled to meet with Bresch’s ex-wife Michelle Bresch this week to discuss her testimony. O’Brien said the woman has been enlisted by his office to testify against her former husband, and if her testimony is consistent with what she has told authorities about her ex-spouse, her felony charge would be dismissed.
Shellie Patscheck, Michelle’ Bresch’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Times on Oct. 24.
According to court documents, Joseph and Michelle Bresch were divorced in 2019, approximately two years before the alleged abuse took place.
O’Brien said his office normally does not like to compel witnesses to testify under the threat of a felony charge, but he said recent New Mexico Court of Appeals rulings have made it increasingly difficult for prosecutors to use immunity as a tool to compel such testimony.
Child's injuries were numerous, severe
According to The Daily Times archives, Joseph Bresch was arrested by Bloomfield police in late 2021 after emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an infant not breathing at a Bloomfield residence. Police were told that some of the child’s injuries looked suspicious, and the infant had to be placed on a ventilator and transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque for treatment.
Michelle Bresch, who was described in court documents as Joseph Bresch’s girlfriend at the time of the incident, told police they took the child out of a car seat when the infant stopped breathing.
According to doctors at the San Juan Regional Medical Center and UNM Hospital who treated the child, the child's injuries included approximately 20 broken ribs, two fractured clavicles, fractures in both arms and legs, and a fractured finger. The infant also had a “cauliflower” ear, burst blood vessels in the left eye and a severe laceration to the neck. Police said they believed the infant suffered the injuries between Oct. 8 and Oct. 24, 2021, according to court documents.
Michelle Bresch told police after she and her ex-husband were taken into custody on Oct. 27, 2021, that she believed he was responsible for the child’s injuries, pointing to his previous child abuse conviction in Nevada. Court documents show Joseph Bresch served seven years in prison in that case.
The child in the current case against Joseph Bresch was placed with a foster family by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. O’Brien said it is his understanding that the agency intends to reunite the child with her mother.
Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e.
This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: DA says mother will testify against ex-husband in child abuse case
