Criminal Trespass
Legal Definition
A person commits criminal trespass by knowingly entering or remaining on real property of another without permission or legal authority. The offense includes entering property after being told not to, remaining after being asked to leave, or entering when notice against trespass is given by posting, fencing, or other means reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders.
Possible Punishment
Up to 6 months in county jail and a fine up to $500. Criminal trespass is a petty misdemeanor under New Mexico law.
Local Context
Notice against trespass may be actual (verbal or written warning) or constructive (signs, fences, purple paint marks on trees or posts). The statute applies to all types of real property, including land, buildings, and other structures. Certain aggravated forms of trespass—such as trespass with intent to commit a felony or trespass on critical infrastructure—may be charged under separate, more serious statutes.
Property-Crime Cases in Doña Ana County
Property charges in New Mexico scale with dollar value and circumstances. The same shoplifting conduct can be a petty misdemeanor or a felony depending on the value of what was taken, and burglary escalates sharply when the structure is a home or someone is inside. That is why our charge database lists several versions of larceny and burglary with different classifications.
Property cases also drive a large share of repeat bookings: failure to appear on an older larceny case frequently brings someone back into the detention center on a bench warrant alongside any new charge.
Related Guides
Misdemeanor vs. Felony in New Mexico: Sentences, Courts, and Consequences
How New Mexico separates petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, and felony degrees: sentence ranges, jail vs. prison, habitual enhancements, and collateral costs.
Bench Warrants and Failure to Appear in New Mexico: How a Missed Court Date Becomes a Booking
What a bench warrant is, how it differs from an arrest warrant, why FTA bookings fill the Doña Ana County jail log, and how to clear a warrant before arrest.
Recent Arrests for This Charge (30)
Las Cruces Man, 31, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Arrowhead Drive
ANTHONY DURAN | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 33, Booked on Suspicion of Criminal Trespass
CARLOS TREJO | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 26, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Maddox Loop
JONAH ORTIZ | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 31, Booked on Charges of Criminal Trespass and Resisting
ANTHONY DURAN | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 37, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at N. Horseshoe and Espina
JOEL ALFARO | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 45, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge Near Downtown
CHARLES RAMSBARGER | 6 charges
Las Cruces Woman, 18, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Telshor Boulevard
UNIQUE SERNA | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 25, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Idaho Avenue
JOHNNY ESTRADA | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 52, Booked on Criminal Trespass and Multiple Failure to Appear Charges
JOSE CELAYA | 5 charges
Las Cruces Man, 40, Booked on Aggravated Dwi and Household Assault Charges
ANTHONY HOLGUIN | 11 charges
Las Cruces Man, 25, Booked on Resisting and Trespass Charges
MATTHEW MARTINEZ | 2 charges
Las Cruces Woman, 49, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge
SILVIA VAZQUEZ | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 37, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Mcfie Circle
JONATHAN THOMAS | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 45, Booked on Concealing Identity and Trespass Charges
MIGUEL GRIJALVA | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 24, Booked on Charges of Assault on a Peace Officer and Trespass
ROMERO SERENA | 3 charges
Las Cruces Woman, 40, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Telshor Location
JASMINA VERDUGO | 2 charges
Hatch Man, 44, Booked on Criminal Trespass and Resisting Charges
LORENZO RAMOS | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 31, Booked on Criminal Trespass and Failure to Appear Charges
ANTHONY DURAN | 3 charges
Vado Man, 27, Booked on Multiple Counts of Aggravated Battery and Trespass
BRAYAN QUIROZ-DURAN | 4 charges
Las Cruces Man, 34, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charges
RUBEN RINCON | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 27, Booked on Felony and Misdemeanor Failure to Appear Charges
JESUS VAZQUEZ | 5 charges
Las Cruces Man, 50, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Picacho Avenue Location
MICHAEL SIMPSON | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 41, Booked for Criminal Trespass and Release Violations
SHAWN GANNON | 4 charges
Las Cruces Man, 30, Booked on Felony Failure to Appear and Trespassing Charges
SALVADOR CHAVEZ | 3 charges
Las Cruces Man, 24, Booked on Charges of Assault on Peace Officers and Trespass
ARONI DIAS | 5 charges
Santa Fe Woman, 33, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge in Las Cruces
DAYSI GARDEA | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 47, Booked on Trespass and Resisting Charges at Picacho Address
JOHN MAYNOR | 2 charges
Las Cruces Man, 36, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Bataan Memorial
DALE MAAG | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 37, Booked on Criminal Trespass Charge at Bataan Memorial West
CARLOS OSOLLO | 1 charge
Las Cruces Man, 33, Booked on Suspicion of Criminal Trespass
JUAN MIRANDA | 7 charges
Information provided for general reference. Statutory text is summarized and may not reflect the most recent amendments. All persons listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.