Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Quentin Ray, announced that on November 8, 2023, that Christian Alonzo, pled to a count of Abandonment of a Child Resulting in Death. District Judge Fred Van Soelen sentenced him to fifteen (15) years in the Department of Corrections, the maximum penalty for the charge.
On April 26, 2021, officers with the Texico Police Department responded to an apartment complex located on Ave. F in Texico where they discovered the unresponsive body of a four month old female child. Texico officers investigated the incident aided by the services of a Field Agent with the Office of the Medical Examiner. Officers learned that the child had been left in the custody of the defendant, her father. According to witnesses, he came out of his apartment exclaiming that the baby was not breathing. Later at autopsy, it was discovered that the child suffered from blunt force trauma to the head resulting in her death. After the baby’s death, the defendant fled from the jurisdiction. Through efforts of Texico Chief, Doug Bowman, the United State’s Marshall service was finally able to locate the defendant in Massachusetts. He was then extradited back to New Mexico to stand trial.
The Honorable Fred Van Soelen presided over the hearing and sentenced, Alonzo to 15 years in the Department of Corrections. In addition, the Court found that this count was a Serious Violent Offence. As a result, Alonzo will be forced to serve a minimum of 85% of his sentence before he can be considered for release on parole. Judge Van Soelen presided over the plea
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney, Brian Scott Stover. Alonzo was represented by Criminal Defense Attorney, Jacob Ort from the Law Officer of the Public Defender’s Major Crime Unit.
DA, Quentin Ray would like to acknowledge the investigation done by Texico Police Officers Doug Bowman and the late Bryan Vanatta as well as the work of DA investigator Kieth Bessette for their outstanding and persistent work on this case.
For more information, please contact the Office of the District Attorney, at 575-769-2246.
