Former Las Cruces daycare owner arrested on additional child sex abuse charge
Update (December 9, 2024): Cardiel appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody until a detention hearing scheduled for December 11, 2025, officials say.
"If convicted of the current charge, Cardiel faces not less than 10 years in prison and up to life in prison," federal prosecutors say.
HSI El Paso is also seeking additional potential victims in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-4-HSI-TIP (877-447-4847).
Update (December 5, 2024): Jail records show Cardiel was arrested again on December 4, 2024 and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on a Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (Force or Coercion) charge.
The records show that Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested Cardiel near the intersection of Stull Drive and Concord Avenue, just steps from La Fonda Park.
Authorities are holding Cardiel without bond, jail records show.
HSI started looking into Cardiel's alleged crimes on November 20, 2024 after they received information from LCPD that Cardiel may be abusing a child.
After reviewing the information in the case, including interviews with victims, HSI decided to charge Cardiel with this additional federal charge.
Update (6:21 PM): The Las Cruces Police Department says that Cardiel is the co-owner of a "now shuttered daycare facility." The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department had opened an investigation against Cardiel Childcare Services, located on the 5500 block of Century Lane. The investigators reportedly stated the alleged sexual abuse had occurred at the daycare center. The state had also recently suspended the daycare's license.
Police investigators did a "forensic interview" with the young victim.
"Investigators learned that on at least four occasions, Juan Cardiel had sexual contact with the victim," a spokesperson stated.
Police provided other identifying characteristics about the child (age, gender, and status), however, ABC-7 is choosing not to include those details in this report out of respect for the privacy of the victim.
"Las Cruces police have reason to believe there may be other victims who have not yet come forward," the spokesperson added. "Anyone who knows someone who might have been a victim of similar illegal activity is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795."
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Jail records in Dona Ana County show 78-year-old Juan Cardiel is charged with four counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (Unclothed).
Officers arrested Cardiel on Century Lane in Las Cruces at 1:12 PM Wednesday, May 1, 2024. They booked him into the Dona Ana County Detention Center at 6:15 PM the same day.
Officers booked Cardiel for the four felonies on an arrest warrant. The Las Cruces Police Department is the arresting agency, according to county jail information available online.
Jail records show that Cardiel is being held without bond. He does not have a first court appearance scheduled yet, according to records.
ABC-7 is working to learn more information.
