Gamerco man faces fondling charges

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — McKinley County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jason Armijo, 26, of Gamerco, Friday for his alleged inappropriate contact with 4- and 5-year-old children.

Investigators said the evidence substantiating Armijo’s arrest surfaced during a “safehouse” interview with the children, of whom Armijo is the stepfather.

“He had touched his stepkids inappropriately,” Investigator Salina Burriel said Monday.

Armijo is being held on $30,000 cash or surety bond at McKinley County Adult Detention Center. He is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, each a second-degree felony punishable by up to 18 years in prison.

Armijo’s court records show two prior charges of battery against a household member, one in August 2007 and one in September of this year, as well as two prior burglaries and a slew of charges for driving with a suspended license.

The children’s mother, Leena Martinez, had been incarcerated for charges that could not be determined at the time the inappropriate contact is said to have taken place.

Further details of the case remain under investigation.