The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Staff report

A Roosevelt County man is facing felony charges of criminal sexual contact with a minor, according to court documents.

Donnie Romero, 48, was arrested on May 27 for an incident police say took place four days prior.

He has since been released from the Roosevelt County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond, according to a Roosevelt County Detention Center officer.

Romero is accused of the unlawful and intentional touching of the intimate parts of a minor.

Attempts to reach Romero on Thursday were unsuccessful and his court-appointed state public defender wasn’t immediately available for comment.

According to court documents:

• The arresting officer responded to a call that a young girl that was touched by Romero at his residence.

• The minor sent text messages to a cousin about the incident in which the minor said the touching took place on May 23.

• The minor was at a party at Romero’s house. She said after she went to bed on a separate side of the house from Romero’s bedroom, he came to the bed she was sleeping in and laid beside her and used his hand to touch her.

• Romero admitted he had been drinking alcohol the night of the party and did not remember how much he had to drink but he knew consumed at least more than a 12-pack of beer. He said he did not remember what happened that night.

Romero faces a June 18 preliminary examination in Roosevelt County Magistrate Court.