Grand jury could consider charges involving Doa Ana County Jail Administrator

On Wednesday, ABC-7 heard from Doa Ana County Jail Administrator Chris Barela’s defense, the first time since Barela was arrested three months ago.

Late last year, the Doa Ana County Sheriff’s Office arrested Barela on charges of Embezzlement over $20,000, Fraud over $20,000, bringing contraband (a dangerous weapon) into the jail and Willful Neglect of Duty.

Members of the public were not allowed inside Barela’s hearing on Wednesday, but ABC-7 was told it was about the possibility of having a grand jury move forward with the case.

“It’s disturbing that this sheriff has now decided to resurrect these things in order to simply drag my name through the dirt as it seems to be right now,” Chris Barela told ABC-7 in an exclusive interview about the investigation in August of 2015.

In that interview, Barela said numerous agencies investigated the jail’s inmate welfare fund more than once but never found any wrong doing. He called the sheriff’s investigation a ‘witch hunt’.

“Don’t go resurrecting things that have already been investigated and have been put away and just to dirty my name so you can create public hatred towards me,” Barela said.

ABC-7 was there as Barela entered the courtroom for a motion hearing about grand jury proceedings on Wednesday. But the judge said it was sequestered so all members of the public had to leave.

Afterwards, Barela’s attorney was brief when defending his client.

“My client has only followed the law and done everything hes supposed to do,” Defense Attorney Michael Stout said.

While Barela had no comment, he made it clear last year what he thought the sheriff’s motive was.

“He decided to roll me under a bus or fictitiously create this entire investigation to probably or possibly generate public disdain for me,” Barela said in 2015.

After the motion hearing, it was decided the case will not go to a grand jury Thursday. It will likely be rescheduled for a later time.