Farmington Couple Faces Child Abuse Charges

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) – A Farmington couple are facing child abuse charges after a 2-year-old boy and an 8-month-old girl were found with bruises and bite marks.

Police say 22-year-old Crystal Rios faces one count of third-degree child abuse. Her boyfriend – 20-year-old Francisco Romero – is facing two counts of third-degree child abuse.

Farmington police officers were dispatched to a Farmington motel Wednesday and found the boy walking in the snow with nothing on but a diaper. The girl was found inside a motel room wrapped in a blanket.

Police say Romero admitted to biting the children.

Police say Rios, who is the children’s mother, told investigators that she knew her son’s arm had been broken since Monday but she had not sought treatment for his injuries.

Romero and Rios are being held at the San Juan County Detention Center.