A 20-year-old Las Cruces man is suspected of sexually assaulting a young girl in 2016, and possessing and recording child pornography.
Christopher Taylor Manuel, of the 1500 block of Mariposa Drive, is charged with one first-degree felony count of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13, one second-degree felony count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of sexual exploitation of a child,
The exploitation charges include a second-degree felony count for manufacturing, a second-degree felony count for recording and a fourth-degree felony count for possessing child pornography.
On March 7, 2017, an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigator with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office learned of the possibility of child pornography that was uploaded to a Gmail account.
The Attorney General’s office sought assistance from a Las Cruces Police Department investigator who is also a member of the ICAC Task Force. The investigator confirmed the most recent address for Manuel and obtained a warrant to search for additional evidence.
Investigators discovered at least six photos of child pornography were uploaded by Manuel. Each of the explicit photos is of a girl who appears to be under the age of 13.
Detectives subsequently learned that Manuel sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl in August 2016.
Detectives are continuing their investigation. Anyone with additional information that’s relevant to this case is asked to call police at(575) 526-0795.
Manuel was arrested on Monday, March 20, and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s being held on bond set at $300,000.
Information from Las Cruces Police