Former booking officer charged with larceny

A former Curry County Detention Center booking officer has been charged with two counts of larceny after being accused of stealing money from a pair of detainees.

Portales attorney Eric Dixon filed tort claims with the Curry County Clerk’s office on May 10 on behalf of Erasmo Ramirez and Gudalupe Ortega, alleging both men had money stolen from them in April by booking officer Alexandria Bichsel.

Curry County Manager Lance Pyle acknowledged the claims and said the probe was forwarded to law enforcement personnel.

“Upon receiving grievances in April, the County conducted a preliminary investigation and referred the matter to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office,” Pyle wrote in response to an email seeking comment. “Based on County policy, I am not able to comment any further on threatened litigations.”

Attempts to contact Bichsel for comment were unsuccessful.

According to county records supplied by Dixon:

• Ramirez and Ortega filed grievances with the Curry County Adult Detention Center with regard to the alleged missing funds, with Ramirez referencing he was booked into the detention center on April 6 with $358 while Ortega offered a statement he was booked with $245 on April 22.

• Both men noted in their grievances at the time of their bookings Bichsel told them they could not sign for their money, with Ortega later referencing $25 was credited to his account and Ramirez $163.43.

• An investigative report by Curry County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Sandy Loomis indicates Bichsel is shown on video removing money from Ramirez’s wallet on April 22 and placing it in the front left pocket of her uniform pants.

• A memo to Curry County Human Resources personnel dated April 27 from Curry County Detention Center Administrator Mark Gallegos said Bichsel admitted stealing money from one of the detainees and recommended Bischsel’s immediate separation as a temporary employee.

• Bichsel was arrested May 17 and arraigned May 23 before Judge Duane Castleberry in magistrate court on two counts of larceny (over $250 but not more than $500), both misdemeanors.

She entered a not guilty plea to the charges and is free on a $2,000 cash surety bond. A June 28 pre-trial hearing is slated in magistrate court.