A Farmington man has been charged with child sex crimes for reportedly molesting a girl during the past four years.
Martin Figueroa-Leal, 61, was arrested July 16 and charged with seven counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under the age of 13.
The abuse reportedly began four years ago when the girl was 8 years old, and it allegedly happened at Figueroa-Leal’s home in the 2900 block of East 23rd Street in Farmington.
The girl recently attended a Jehovah’s Witness church camp, where she learned about “illegal acts and inappropriate conduct.” This led her to report the alleged abuse to a family member, who alerted the Farmington Police, according to the affidavit for arrest warrant.
The child also set up a cellphone and captured a video of Figueroa-Leal sexually molesting her, the affidavit said.
She told investigators that he would kiss her and touch her inappropriately, which made her “feel ‘very awkward,’” the affidavit said.
When police questioned Figueroa-Leal, he reportedly claimed the girl was “manipulative” and made “sexual advances towards him,” and he allegedly admitted that he “’gave in’ to her behavior,” the affidavit said.
Figueroa-Leal also reportedly admitted to police that the acts “aroused” him, but that “he regretted not stopping the sexual contact when it first began,” the affidavit said.
Figueroa-Leal was booked into the San Juan County Detention Center, and that San Juan County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion for a pretrial detention hold to keep him in jail.
The motion said that if Figueroa-Leal “were released, the State has concerns of his behavior toward, and the safety of, the victim.”
A motions hearing has been set for 8 a.m. July 29 in 11th Judicial District Judge Stephen Wayne’s courtroom in Aztec.