DNA match links Juan Pablo Delgado-Palma to 2013 Las Cruces rape

Las Cruces, New Mexico (KVIA) -- District Court Judge Richard M. Jacquez granted a motion filed by the Doña Ana District Attorney requesting the man charged in connection of a 2013 rape of a teen girl be held without bond until his trial.

Jacquez found Juan Pablo Delgado-Palma, 53, posed a danger to the community and there were no conditions that could be imposed that would guarantee the safety of those in the community.

Delgado-Palma was arrested on Oct. 29 after his DNA matched a rape case from Dec. 25, 2013. A 16-year-old girl reported she had been sexually assaulted at a park on Doña Ana Road. She told Las Cruces Police that she went wallking in the park after fighting with her boyfriend at the time. She stated she woke up in a ditch with a man on top of her, then fainted. When she woke up again she was able to walk to her parent's home and then called police to file a report.

The teen described the man as being Hispanic, in his 30s and with a "lazy eye". DNA was collected as part of a sexual assault examination and submitted to CODIS or the Combined DNA Index System. There was no immediate match on file at the time.

Delgado-Palma was detained at an ICE facility in Albuquerque in 2025 at which time a DNA sample was obtained by authorities. The sample was entered into CODIS and it matched the sample from the 2013 sexual assault case.

During the detention hearing in Judge Jacquez' court, a Las Cruces Police Detective testified Delgado-Palma's physical description that was on the 2013 report matched his photo ID.

Delgado-Palma was arrested on October 29, 2026 and charged with a single count of criminial sexual penetration of a minor charge.

“The defendant has a pattern of violating the law and violating orders of the court,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Heather Chavez. “The evidence presented in court, supported by the victim’s testimony, proves he is a danger to the community.”

Delgado-Palma is being held at the Doña Ana County Detention Center pending his trial.