Small Town News

Former school employee charged with molestation

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Felix G. Sandoval, 53, of Vanadium, New Mexico, has been charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor in the third degree by the 6th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

According to the Affidavit for Arrest Warrant penned by the Lordsburg Police Department, on February 27, 2009 Sandoval did "intentionally or unlawfully touch or applu force to the buttocks of a girl under the age of 13."

The Affidavit further alleges that the incident occurred at Southside Elementary School, where Sandoval worked as a computer technician.

According to Lordsburg Schools' Superintendent Jim Barentine, Sandoval was immediately placed on administrative leave once the district was aware of the allegations.

"That decision was not based on his guilt or innocence," Barentine said, "but simple on the fact that it is our policy to act immediately to protect our children."

Because of the charges against him, Sandoval was unable to return to work and has since been terminated by the Lordsburg Municipal School District.

He was arrested in March and was held on a $15,000 bond, which he was able to post. He appeared in Magistrate Court on August 13 for a preliminary bearing, where Magistrate Judge Doug Hall found evidence to bind the case over to District Court.

Sandoval is currently awaiting arraignment in District Court.

Sandoval was previously arrested in September 2008 in Bayard and charged with Driving Under the Influence (2"d offense) and Reckless Driving. The DUI charges were droppped as part of a plea agreement and he was given a 90-day jail sentence for the reckless driving charge, 85 days of which were suspended.

As part of his plea agreement, Sandoval was required to undergo substance abuse screening and was slated to begin counseling at Hidalgo Medical Services in early February 2009.

He pled No Contest to a DUI arrest in 1996.

Sandoval is currently on probation for a 2007 incident in which he used a telephone to terrify/intimidate or threaten another person. His probationary period on that charge is slated to end on September 26, 2009.

Conditions of the current charges do not allow Sandoval to be in Lordsburg except for court dates and force him to avoid schools or other places where there are children present.

Sandoval had never worked in a school setting before, with his previous employer being an excavating company out of Silver City.



Copyright 2009 Hidalgo County Herald, Lordsburg, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 Hidalgo County Herald Lordsburg, New Mexico. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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