ABC-7 obtains confidential memo asking commissioners to stay quiet about jail investigation

ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom has obtained a copy of a confidential memo asking Dona Ana County commissioners not to disclose they knew of an impending investigation of the county jail and its administrator, Chris Barela.

Last week,sheriff’s deputies arrested Barela on allegations he misused inmate welfare funds. In august, Barela dismissed the investigation against him as political cronyism.

“I call it malicious prosecution by an officer. I call it slander. I call it lies. I call it public corruption. Office corruption to fulfill a hidden agenda, maybe to fill campaign promises. That’s no reason to dirty my name,” Barela said, in a past interview.

This past Tuesday, our New Mexico Mobile Newsroom obtained video of the sheriff’s office temporary takeover of the county jail following Barela’s arrest. The county manager put an immediate end to the takeover, handing the sheriff a restraining order in the middle of a news conference and asking him to leave the jail immediately.

The bitter divide between the sheriff’s office and county government has been clearly visible for weeks. The sheriff has said commissioners knew about the investigation and did nothing about it.

The memo states District Attorney Mark D’antonio intended to meet with all five of them to discuss a confidential investigation, and the commissioners who signed it agreed to not say anything, even to county administrators or attorneys.

Some commissioners tell ABC-7 after signing this letter, their hands were tied because they were only allowed to talk about the investigation amongst themselves and they couldn’t go to the county manager for help.

Chairman Billy Garrett tells ABC-7 D’Antonio didn’t warn them the sheriff would be the one taking over the jail, and therefore, commissioners were taken aback.

“We were not told how this was going to be handled and that the sheriff was going to take over the jail,” Garrett said. “Had we known that in advance, we would’ve been able to direct them towards making sure that they were clear on their authority, making sure they were coordinating with the county manager.”

While Garrett says he didn’t sign the memo, Benjamin Rawson, Wayne Hancock and Dr. David Garcia say they did.