The man arrested in March for allegedly keeping his girlfriend from leaving their residence has now – along with his girlfriend – been charged with child abuse after the couple’s two young children tested positive for cocaine.
Santana D. Jaramillo, 23, and Deva Leshae Blunt, 21, are charged with two counts of negligent child abuse. Jaramillo was served with the new charges last week at the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is being held on previous charges. Blunt was detained Wednesday on a warrant issued by Magistrate Court.
Since Jaramillo’s March 24 arrest, Las Cruces Police detectives have learned that Jaramillo and Blunt have repeatedly used cocaine in the presence of their two young children, a 2-year-old girl and a 9-month-old boy. The state’s Children, Youth and Families Department took custody of the two children and both kids tested positive for cocaine. The children are now living with relatives.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that, on the evening of March 23, Jaramillo gained entry to Blunt’s apartment while she was away. When Blunt returned with her children, Jaramillo allegedly took her cell phone and keys, and refused to let her leave. Detectives learned that the two argued for several hours during which Jaramillo is believed to have threatened the woman with a handgun.
The following day, Blunt was allowed to leave the apartment under the ruse that she would return with breakfast. Instead, she alerted relatives who went to the apartment a short while later to pick up the couple’s children. When the relatives arrived, Blunt was able to escape with her two children.
Police attempted to contact Jaramillo but to no avail. LCPD’s SWAT team was activated but Jaramillo continued to ignore multiple commands to exit the apartment. An hours-long standoff ensued until LCPD sent a K-9 inside an adjoining apartment to locate and subdue Jaramillo.
As a result of that incident, Jaramillo was charged with two counts of battery against a household member and one count each of aggravated assault and false imprisonment.
Jaramillo and Blunt are now being held on bonds set at $25,000.
Information from Las Cruces Police