Charges dropped against embattled Doa Ana County Jail Director

A grand jury has cleared the embattled jail director in Doa Ana County of all charges relating to a fraud investigation.

Chris Barela could be back on the job as soon as next week, according to his attorney Michael Stout.

“Mr. Barela hopes to get back to the job of managing the detention center,” said Stout. “His life has been put on hold for many months waiting for this unnecessary saga to finish and this should signal the end”.

Last week, ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom first reported Barela was cleared of fraud and embezzlement charges.

Thursday, a grand jury dropped a third charge of Unlawfully Taking a Weapon Into a Jail.

The district attorney’s office said there was not enough evidence to move forward on any of the charges.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Barela last December on charges of Embezzlement over $20,000, Fraud over $20,000, bringing contraband (a dangerous weapon) into the jail and Willful Neglect of Duty.