Las Cruces Police Arrest 71-Year-Old In Alleged Sexual Assault Of Young Girl

Las Cruces Police have arrested a 71-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a young girl when she was between the ages of 4 and 8.

Manuel B. “Manny” Patino was arrested in May 2012 and has been charged with four counts of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree, one count of second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of third-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor.

According to Las Cruces Police, detectives learned that a teenager girl disclosed for the first time that Patino began touching her inappropriately when she was around 4 years old. The girl told detectives the inappropriate behavior led to Patino sexually assaulting her several times until she was 8 years old.

Las Cruces Police allege Patino committed the crimes when he lived on Juniper Avenue in Las Cruces.

Patino is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $50,000.