DEMING – A New Mexico sheriff’s deputy is facing criminal charges, including battery, following an incident at a party. New Mexico State Police allege that San Miguel County Deputy Justin Padilla helped restrain a woman while she was beaten by another woman at his home in Las Vegas, NM.
The incident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on September 10, 2023. Police responding to the scene observed Padilla with dirt on his clothes. He claimed there had been a fight between “some chicks.”
The victim reported that she was trying to leave the party when she was attacked. She alleged that Padilla and another man held her down while two women hit her. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a jealousy dispute.
Bystanders eventually intervened, and the victim sustained multiple injuries, including a cut on her cheek and missing nails. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office announced that the District Attorney’s Office will review all cases involving Deputy Padilla.