New details emerge in Jail Director Chris Barela’s arrest
Dona Ana County’s Jail Administrator Chris Barela is out on bond following his arrest Tuesdayon multiple felony charges.
Barela is also on paid administrative leave. The county attorney tells ABC-7 because this is a criminal manner, its outside the scope of his employment. He says that means the county can only change the status of Barela’s leave, once they determine the 10 year jail director did something outside of county policy.
Our New Mexico Mobile Newsroom wanted to know why he was arrested on the spot and not issued a criminal summons, like several other high profile public servants arrested in Dona Ana County. Captain Michael Kinney tells ABC-7 they decide between the two on a cases by case basis. In Barela’s case, deputies determined they couldn’t risk waiting on a court date that could potentially compromise an investigation.
“We needed to be able to keep this individual who was accused of these crimes away from that area to prevent any conceivable possible tampering over exposure influence on people who are either participating or helping with the investigation,” Captain Michael Kinney said.
The sheriff’s office says the reason they transported Barela all the way to Lovington, New Mexico was because closer facilities outside the county were full. They also say the further away he was, the less likely he would be recognized.
