San Juan County files felony charges after Farmington assault

San Juan County prosecutors filed felony charges in Eleventh Judicial District Court on Jan. 8, 2026, following a Farmington Police investigation into an alleged violent altercation and suspected drug possession. The case stems from an incident reported Nov. 29, 2025, and advances local concerns about public safety and court caseloads.

Court filings list two felony counts. The first alleges aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a third-degree felony under New Mexico law, with prosecutors saying the defendant intentionally struck another person multiple times with a wooden fence stick capable of causing serious bodily injury. The second count alleges possession of a controlled substance, specifically fentanyl, a fourth-degree felony; investigators reported recovering a white powdery substance believed to be fentanyl and found no valid prescription or authorized medical use tied to it.

A Statement of Probable Cause filed in Magistrate Court recounts that officers were dispatched after a caller reported yelling and possible violence at a residence. Responding officers documented visible injuries on the reporting party, photographed those injuries, and recovered a broken wooden object believed to have been used during the altercation. Medical personnel were summoned and the reporting party was transported for treatment. Investigators later identified and detained the suspect at the scene before submitting the investigation for prosecutorial review.

After review by the District Attorney’s Office, the case moved from an initial arrest to formal felony prosecution. Court records show the defendant waived a preliminary hearing, allowing direct advancement to District Court. Prosecutors listed multiple potential witnesses in the Criminal Information, including law enforcement officers and civilians who were present during the incident. Booking records indicate the defendant was taken into custody in early January 2026 and later released; bond information was not listed in publicly available records at the time of publication.

The case is now pending in the Eleventh Judicial District Court. Future steps may include arraignment, motions, plea negotiations, or trial scheduling; no trial date has been listed publicly. As with all criminal matters, the allegations in court filings are the prosecution’s claims and are not findings of fact. The defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

For Farmington and San Juan County residents, this prosecution underscores the local intersection of violent incidents and illegal opioid presence. Expect courtroom activity to follow as prosecutors and defense counsel build their cases, and watch the district court docket for hearings open to the public. The takeaway? Keep an eye on the court calendar, stay informed about scheduled hearings, and if you witnessed the incident, contact the appropriate law enforcement or prosecutorial office so your account can be part of the record.