Raton Police Officer Charged

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

New Mexico State Police charged Andrew Sanchez age 25 of Raton with one count of 3rd degree sexual penetration and one count of battery after an incident on January 8, 2018 on Highway 526 near Lake Alice according to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court on January 23, 2018.

According to court records Sanchez and the victim were in a relationship. Sanchez and the victim had driven out on Highway 526 where in an intoxicated state he forced himself on her. He had then slapped and choked her, after she had asked him to stop.

According to Chief Garcia, once he was informed of the incident, he put Sanchez on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Once charges were filed Sanchez’s employment with the Raton Police Department was terminated. Sanchez had been employed with the Colfax County Sheriff’s office before returning to the Raton Police Department late last year. Sanchez was on an eight month probationary period when he was terminated.

Below is the press release that KRTN Received from the New Mexico State Police.

PRESS RELEASE  Officer Ray Wilson  New Mexico State Police Public Information Officer Ray.Wilson@state.nm.us Susana MartinezGovernor Scott Weaver Cabinet Secretary Pete N. KassetasNMSP Chief of Police FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2018 State Police Investigate Rape Allegations against Raton Police Officer   On January 8, 2018, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was asked to investigate an alleged rape that took place in Colfax County, New Mexico.  A female victim reported that she was raped by Raton Police Officer Andrew Sanchez while he was off duty. During the investigation, NMSP agents obtained evidence that on the morning of January 8, 2018, RPD Officer Sanchez sexually assaulted the victim as the two were alone together. When the victim was later able to contact police she reported the incident. The New Mexico State Police filed a criminal summons today for Mr. Sanchez to appear in the Raton Magistrate Court. Mr. Sanchez was charged with Criminal Sexual Penetration (3rd Degree Felony) and Battery (Misdemeanor). ###