Man accused of sex offenses

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Several years after a Grants man allegedly touched a young female inappropriately, he has been arrested and charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor have been filed.

Jesus Reyna, 66, of 605 Jackson St., has been charged with six felonies: Four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor, in this case a young girl age 10 at the time of the second incident; and two counts of intimidation of a witness.

Reyna was booked in Cibola County Detention Center on these charges and posted a $10,000 secured bond on Monday. He was then released and advised by the court to not have any contact with the alleged victim or anyone else who may testify, according to Cibola County Magistrate Court records.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court at 10 a.m., Jan. 17.

If prosecuted and convicted of all of the charges, Reyna could serve a maximum of 16 years in state prison, pay a fine of $30,000 or both.

A woman went to the Children, Youth and Families department in late December to report that Reyna had touched her daughter inappropriately about four to five years ago, according to court records.

The mother told the CYF interviewer that she did not report the incidents when they happened because she was afraid Reyna would harm her or her daughter, court records state.

Children in these circumstances are interviewed in a "safe house" situation, said Lt. Maxine Spidle.

"They are interviewed by a professional counselor who knows how to deal with children," she said.

During the interview, the girl described where and how she was touched inappropriately by Reyna, court records state.

There were two separate incidents that were reported and the girl stated she did not want to tell her mom at the time of the incidents because she did not know it was wrong, according to court records.

When she saw a news report on TV about a child being sexually assaulted, she immediately told her mother, court records state.

Reyna was arrested at the Grants Police Department on Jan. 6, the same day an arrest warrant was issued.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197, or e-mail: jimtiffin1@msn.com.