Las Cruces man jailed without bond on felony strangulation charge
A 23-year-old Las Cruces man is being held without bond after police say he strangled a woman during an altercation at Hotel Encanto.
Police say woman told officers her boyfriend choked her during dispute at Hotel Encanto
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A 23-year-old Las Cruces man is being held without bond after prosecutors charged him with strangling a woman during an altercation at a local hotel.
Javier Francisco Chavez Jr. was arrested March 14 and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on charges including aggravated battery against a household member by strangulation, according to jail records.
Las Cruces police say the incident occurred March 13 at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces on South Telshor Boulevard.
According to a statement of probable cause filed in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, the woman told officers that Chavez — described as her boyfriend — arrived at the hotel room where she was staying and began arguing with her.
Investigators say Chavez pinned the woman against a wall and demanded her phone. At one point, police say he took the phone and refused to return it.
When the woman followed Chavez into the hotel lobby and toward the parking lot to retrieve the phone, police say he threatened to slap her, causing her to fear being struck.
Officers say the confrontation escalated when Chavez placed his arm around the woman’s neck in what investigators described as a vascular neck restraint, applying pressure for about 10 to 15 seconds and preventing her from breathing normally.
The woman later told police she felt dizzy and feared for her life during the incident, according to court documents.
Chavez faces one third-degree felony charge of aggravated battery against a household member by strangulation, along with misdemeanor counts of battery against a household member, assault against a household member and deprivation of property of a household member.
A magistrate judge found probable cause for the charges and ordered Chavez held without bond pending a court hearing.
Court records show Chavez was arrested at about 2:43 p.m. March 14 in Las Cruces. A first appearance is scheduled for Monday, March 16, in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.
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