Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Date: 09-01-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: D-307-CR-201801181
Judge: James Waylon Counts
Court: District Court, Dona Ana County, New Mexico
Plaintiff's Attorney: Dona Ana County New Mexico District Attorney's Office
Defendant's Attorney: Jose Coronado
Description: Las Cruces, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with intentional abuse of a child resulting in death.
Lalo Anthony Castrillo was charged for causing the death of Faviola Rodriguez, 2, in September 2018.
Castrillo was babysitting his girlfriends child at the time she allegedly suffered a brain injury as a result of blunt force trauma to her head.
The case was prosecuted by Salvador Guardiola.
2021 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 30 - Criminal Offenses
Article 6 - Crimes Against Children and Dependents
Section 30-6-1 - Abandonment or abuse of a child.
Universal Citation: NM Stat § 30-6-1 (2021)
A. As used in this section:
(1) "child" means a person who is less than eighteen years of age;
(2) "neglect" means that a child is without proper parental care and control of subsistence, education, medical or other care or control necessary for the child's well-being because of the faults or habits of the child's parents, guardian or custodian or their neglect or refusal, when able to do so, to provide them; and
(3) "negligently" refers to criminal negligence and means that a person knew or should have known of the danger involved and acted with a reckless disregard for the safety or health of the child.
B. Abandonment of a child consists of the parent, guardian or custodian of a child intentionally leaving or abandoning the child under circumstances whereby the child may or does suffer neglect. A person who commits abandonment of a child is guilty of a misdemeanor, unless the abandonment results in the child's death or great bodily harm, in which case the person is guilty of a second degree felony.
C. A parent, guardian or custodian who leaves an infant less than ninety days old in compliance with the Safe Haven for Infants Act [Chapter 24, Article 22 NMSA 1978] shall not be prosecuted for abandonment of a child.
D. Abuse of a child consists of a person knowingly, intentionally or negligently, and without justifiable cause, causing or permitting a child to be:
(1) placed in a situation that may endanger the child's life or health;
(2) tortured, cruelly confined or cruelly punished; or
(3) exposed to the inclemency of the weather.
E. A person who commits abuse of a child that does not result in the child's death or great bodily harm is, for a first offense, guilty of a third degree felony and for second and subsequent offenses is guilty of a second degree felony. If the abuse results in great bodily harm to the child, the person is guilty of a first degree felony.
F. A person who commits negligent abuse of a child that results in the death of the child is guilty of a first degree felony.
G. A person who commits intentional abuse of a child twelve to eighteen years of age that results in the death of the child is guilty of a first degree felony.
H. A person who commits intentional abuse of a child less than twelve years of age that results in the death of the child is guilty of a first degree felony resulting in the death of a child.
I. Evidence that demonstrates that a child has been knowingly, intentionally or negligently allowed to enter or remain in a motor vehicle, building or any other premises that contains chemicals and equipment used or intended for use in the manufacture of a controlled substance shall be deemed prima facie evidence of abuse of the child.
J. Evidence that demonstrates that a child has been knowingly and intentionally exposed to the use of methamphetamine shall be deemed prima facie evidence of abuse of the child.
K. A person who leaves an infant less than ninety days old at a hospital may be prosecuted for abuse of the infant for actions of the person occurring before the infant was left at the hospital.
Outcome: Defendant was found guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: