Man accused of molesting a family member arrested, granted $5,000 bond
LAS CRUCES - A man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage family member was granted a $5,000 secured bond on Friday after a pre-trial detention hearing.
Police said in a news release that Carlos Ovalle, 53, sexually abused the family member, now a teenage boy, since he was 5 years old. He's being charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor and criminal sexual contact with a minor, according to a criminal complaint.
According to an affidavit, Ovalle's girlfriend discovered Ovalle sexually abusing the teenager on Sept. 11. Police said that the teenager told them Ovalle had previously molested him several years ago as well.
In a news release, Las Cruces Police Department Public Infomation Officer Dan Trujillo said that police were investigating the possibility Ovalle had sexually assaulted other people in west Texas.
"Investigators have already identified two additional victims in Las Cruces. Additional charges against Ovalle are pending," Trujillo said in the news release.
Trujillo added that Ovalle had spent time or lived in Odessa, Midland and Big Spring, all in Texas.
"Investigators have reason to believe Ovalle may have victimized children or teenagers in those cities, as well," Trujillo said.
During a pre-trial detention hearing on Friday, Judge Doulas Driggers found that Ovalle could be released on a secured bond.
While prosecutors from the Third Judicial District Attorney's office sought to keep Ovalle in jail, Driggers decided that a $5,000 bond was enough to ensure Ovalle would keep coming to court.
When this article was published, Doña Ana County Detention Center records indicted that Ovalle was still in jail.
"Anyone who believes they are a victim or knows of someone who may be a victim is asked to call Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795," Trujillo said in the news release.
Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached by email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com or by phone at 575-541-5449 or on Twitter at @Just516garc.
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