Sunland Park man charged after police say he molested a six-year-old girl

Justin Garcia, Las Cruces Sun-News
·1 min read
1

This article discusses sexual assault and suicide. If you or someone you know experiences sexual violence, you can find local support via La Piñon's 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 575-526-3437 or go to www.lapinon.org.

LAS CRUCES – Police charged a Sunland Park man with molesting a six-year-old girl after his arrest on March 2.

Jose Antonio Hernandez, 56, was charged with five counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and four counts of bribery of a witness. Hernandez could face up to 15 years in prison for the molestation charges if convicted.

Court records indicate the allegations stem from incidents starting in 2013.

According to an affidavit by Sunland Park Police Detective Raul Romero, police first learned of the allegations when the six-year-old girl’s parents came forward. The parents told police they noticed their daughter was self-harming. The six-year-old girl told her parents she was hurting herself because Hernandez, a family member of the girl, was molesting her.

Forensic interviewers also talked to the girl at La Piñon. She told interviewers that Hernandez gave her $200, hoping she’d keep quiet about the abuse.

Hernandez denied the allegations, according to Romero’s affidavit.

Hernandez was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond. He would only be required to pay the bond if he violated his release conditions set by a judge. Court records show a Doña Ana Magistrate Judge Bryan Gelecki ordered Hernandez to have no contact with the girl or her parents.

Hernandez is scheduled for another hearing in April.

Justin Garcia can be reached via email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com.

Others are reading:

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Sunland Park man charged after police say he molested a six-year-old