Bosque Farms police lieutenant charged with raping woman

BOSQUE FARMS—A Bosque Farms police lieutenant is in jail, charged with criminal sexual penetration, a fourth-degree felony.

Lt. Ricky Dominguez, 41, of Los Lunas, was booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on Monday, Nov. 3, and is awaiting arraignment after allegedly having anal intercourse with 21-year-old Los Lunas woman without her consent.

The Los Lunas Police Department began a criminal investigation into Dominguez on Tuesday, Oct. 21, after the woman came to the LLPD station to report the alleged sexual assault. The lieutenant, who has worked for the village since October 2017, was placed on paid administrative leave that same day, Bosque Farms Police Chief Andrew Owen said.

BFPD began it’s own internal affairs investigation the next day.

“Because of the severity of the charges, we are moving forward with immediate termination. We cannot employ him,” Owen said in a phone interview Tuesday, Nov. 4.

He continued, saying of the woman, “I commend her strength for coming forward and I commend the Los Lunas Police Department in their diligence in the criminal investigation.

“The law enforcement profession has taken a huge black eye because of this. I hope the community can realize LLPD did its diligence in the criminal investigation and we did everything in our power to immediately investigate and take swift action. I hope and pray the community can still have faith and confidence in their law enforcement.”

Owen said the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy has been notified of the investigations and the incident has been reported to the New Mexico Law Enforcement Certification Board for its potential action. The LECB has the authority to revoke an officer’s certification for just cause as provided as under the Law Enforcement Training Act and Board Rules.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Los Lunas Magistrate Court on Nov. 4, the victim was stopped for speeding by Dominguez while driving through Bosque Farms in late September.

During the stop, the woman told a LLPD detective he asked her if she was going on a date because of how she was dressed, as well as asked if she had children after seeing a car seat in her vehicle and inquiring, “Is the father involved?”

The woman told LLPD Lt. Nikki DeAnda she found the questions unusual.

During the stop, Dominguez gave the woman his business card, and she contacted him after the stop when she noticed the citation didn’t include her recorded speed or the posted speed limit. She alleges Dominguez said he would “take care of the ticket,” and later sent her a picture of the voided citation.

The woman said the lieutenant began texting her daily, which led to regular phone and text conversations. Eventually, she met him one evening at a Bosque Farms business, where they shared a consensual kiss.

“She noted that Dominguez was on duty, in uniform and in his police vehicle during this encounter,” the affidavit reports.

The woman told DeAnda the two had a consensual sexual encounter on Oct. 2 in a camper owned by Dominguez located in the village of Los Lunas. She alleged Dominguez was also on duty at that time.

She agreed to meet him at the camper again on Oct. 9 with the intention of having sex. That’s when Dominguez alleged penetrated her anally without her consent.

“She stated that she immediately began saying, “Stop.” “Please stop,” and “You’re hurting me.” The woman reported “she was repeatedly telling him to stop, and she was visibly crying.”

After she left the camper, the woman said Dominguez called her multiple times but she didn’t answer. She told DeAnda she told her best friend and mother about the assault.

The victim provided LLPD with the clothing she was wearing the night of the alleged assault, since they hadn’t been washed and might still have Dominguez’s semen on it. The clothing has been submitted for forensic testing, according to the affidavit.

DeAnda went to the BFPD offices on Oct. 21 to collect DNA samples from Dominguez and after being read his Miranda rights, Dominguez agreed to an interview with the LLPD lieutenant.

Dominguez confirmed meeting the woman a few days after the traffic stop, when they kissed, and to voiding the citation. He also confirmed meeting her on the night of Oct. 9 at his camper.

“When I asked if he heard (the woman) say ‘stop’ or ‘please stop,’ Dominguez replied, ‘No,’ stating the only thing he heard was, ‘It hurts.’ He repeatedly described the incident as a ‘misunderstanding,’” the affidavit reads.

DeAnda wrote she asked Dominguez if he asked permission to penetrate the woman anally and he replied, “No, I didn’t.”

A warrant was obtained for a data extraction from Dominguez’ cell phone, which produced text messages between the officer and the woman, as well as a video of the assault.

The investigation found Dominguez set up the phone without the woman’s knowledge before she came into the camper.

“During the encounter, Dominguez is seen penetrating (the victim) anally. ... (she) is heard saying, ‘Stop, it hurts. ..’”

According to the affidavit, Dominquez attempted to grab the victim’s right arm after the incident while she pulled away and stated, “stop,” while still crying.

The court record stated when she was placing her clothing on, she told Dominquez, “I said no.” As she was going to leave, Dominquez allegedly hugged her while stating, “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again,” “I just thought I would try it.”

The victim replied, “Absolutely, not, no is no.”