San Juan County suspect faces new charges over jail tablet video calls
A 22-year-old man already jailed in an August double homicide now faces nine counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after investigators allege he used detention‑center video calls to coerce a preteen to view sexual material. The charges raise questions about supervision of tablet communications in county custody and will be addressed at a preliminary hearing in San Juan County Magistrate Court on Nov. 6.
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Isaiah Brown, 22, who has been held in San Juan County custody since Sept. 23, 2024, in connection with a double‑homicide that occurred Aug. 28, 2024 near Bloomfield, has been charged with nine counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, court records show. An affidavit filed in the case alleges Brown coerced a preteen to access sexual material for him during video calls made through a detention‑center tablet between November 2024 and October 2025.
According to the affidavit, investigators reviewed recordings of the video calls and coordinated with Child Protective Services after identifying the alleged misconduct. The case will advance to a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 6 in San Juan County Magistrate Court, where a magistrate will consider whether there is sufficient evidence for the charges to proceed.
The new allegations arrive while Brown remains in custody on separate homicide charges tied to the late‑August incident near Bloomfield. The overlapping nature of the cases underscores both prosecutorial workload and the complexities of supervising in‑custody communications for defendants held on serious charges.
The local implications are twofold: protection of minors and the operational practices of the detention facility. The use of tablets and video calling platforms in detention settings has expanded in recent years as jails and prisons adopt technology for attorney visits, family contact and program delivery. The allegations in this matter will likely prompt closer scrutiny of San Juan County’s policies on inmate access to devices, monitoring procedures for recorded communications, retention and review of recordings, and the responsiveness of staff when suspected exploitation is reported.
Investigators’ notification of Child Protective Services demonstrates interagency involvement in cases that span criminal and child welfare systems. For residents, that coordination can be reassuring, but it also raises questions about transparency and what safeguards are in place to prevent alleged exploitation while individuals are held in custody.
The preliminary hearing on Nov. 6 is a public court proceeding that will determine whether magistrate court finds probable cause to bind the new charges over to a higher court. Outcomes from that hearing will shape next steps in the prosecution and could influence discussions at the county level about detention‑center oversight, vendor contracts for communications technology, and policies designed to protect vulnerable community members.
San Juan County residents seeking updates should follow court filings and official statements from county law enforcement and child welfare authorities as the case progresses. Local oversight bodies and elected officials may also review detention practices in response to community concerns about safety and accountability.
