Las Cruces Man Charged With Raping 3-Year-Old Girl

A 24-year-old Las Cruces man who allegedly tried to conceal his name from police has been arrested and charged with the rape of a 3-year-old girl.

Eric Gene Acosta, who identified himself to police as “Eric Golden,” of the 700 block of Tornillo Street, is charged with one first-degree felony count of criminal sexual penetration of a child and one misdemeanor count of concealing his identity.

Las Cruces Police detectives said they learned that Acosta committed the crime against the girl sometime between Sept. 1, 2010, and Jan. 29 of this year. Police learned of the incident on Jan. 29 after the girl divulged information to her family.

Family members then took the girl to a local hospital for an examination.

Acosta is not related to the victim but did have a relationship with the girl’s mother.

Acosta was arrested Feb. 4 on a warrant. When interviewed by detectives Acosta identified himself as “Eric Golden” but claimed he did not have a picture ID or a driver’s license, and that he didn’t know his social security number.

Acosta was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $50,000.