Warrant served on man accused of molesting daughter

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A local detective served a Bernalillo County inmate with an arrest warrant on Wednesday in connection with the molestation of his 15-year-old mentally disabled daughter.

Richard Platero, of Gallup, is in custody at the Bernalillo County Detention Center on a federal warrant for allegedly violating his parole and unrelated charges.

Erin Toadlena-Pablo, a spokeswoman for the Gallup Police Department, said Gallup detective Juan Reyes traveled to Albuquerque on Wednesday to serve Platero with an arrest warrant in connection with the Gallup case. Platero has been charged with criminal sexual contact of a minor and criminal sexual penetration for allegedly touching the girl inappropriately in December and October of 2004.

The girl could remember the incidents by holidays or exact dates. During an interview with detectives, the girl, accompanied by her mother and aunt, allegedly showed signs of "heavy emotional distress" and cried throughout the session, according to court documents. The girl said Platero threatened to kill her family if she told anyone about the incident.

Platero had been living with the girl, his ex-wife and her family after his release from prison. However, he reportedly violated the conditions of his release by returning to McKinley County, Toadlena-Pablo said.

Records indicate Platero may have been at the residence as recent as April. The incidents reportedly occurred while the girl was home alone with her younger sister. Platero allegedly would call the older girl to his bedroom and would tell the younger girl to go watch television.

The girl's family became suspicious when they found open condoms underneath the girl's bed, Toadlena-Pablo said.

Platero is reportedly also a suspect in unrelated sex offenses that involve both adults and children.