Mescalero Man, 24, Sentenced Following Guilty Plea in Child Abuse Case

Emilio Morales, 24, of Mescalero, was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on Oct. 16, 2025. Records indicate he was processed under booking number 2500008547 following an arrest in Ruidoso. Morales was held on felony charges categorized as all other offenses with no bond listed at the time of the booking entry. According to news reports from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Morales pleaded guilty to child abuse in connection with an incident involving a firearm. Court and news records show he fired a handgun multiple times in close proximity to two minor children while he was in a state of intoxication. Court and news records indicate Morales was convicted in this case following his formal guilty plea.