Court Document: Las Cruces Man Held Baby Under Scalding Water As Punishment

A Las Cruces man confessed to allegedly holding his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter under scalding water as a punishment, according to court documents.

According to an official statement of facts, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies claim 25-year-old Peter Carreras was watching Cora Berroteran the afternoon of April 28.

The statement alleges that Carreras tried to put the baby down for a nap, but she continued playing and would not go to sleep.

“She wasn’t real cooperative with the nap, she’s 2-years-old, and then he’s going to give her a bath,” District Attorney Amy Orlando said. “So he punished her by turning on the hot water only and holding her head under the faucet.”

Doctors said the water was hotter than 135 degrees.

The statement claims the skin was peeling from the girl’s body. Sheriff’s officials said Berroteran suffered first, second and third-degree-burns across her body and face.

“The burns on her hands came from her trying to cover her own little face,” Orlando said.