Former nurse at Mesilla Valley Behavioral Hospital charged with sex crimes involving juvenile patient
A former Mesilla Valley Behavioral Hospital nurse faces multiple felony charges after investigators say she engaged in sexual acts with a juvenile patient she met while working at the facility.
Las Cruces woman faces multiple felony charges after investigators say she engaged in sexual acts with a minor she met while working at the behavioral health facility
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces woman who worked as a nurse at Mesilla Valley Behavioral Hospital has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor, one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor in a position of authority and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to a criminal complaint filed in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court.
Kayla Salcido, 26, was arrested after Las Cruces police investigated a report that a juvenile patient had been sexually assaulted by a nurse at the behavioral health facility, court records state.
According to a statement of probable cause filed in the case, the hospital’s nursing director reported that a juvenile male patient disclosed he had been sexually assaulted by a nurse who worked at the hospital. Investigators later identified that nurse as Salcido.
The affidavit states the juvenile male told investigators he met Salcido while he was receiving treatment at the hospital, where she worked as one of his nurses.
Investigators wrote that the two began communicating and flirting, and that Salcido added the patient on Instagram and showed him nude photos of herself.
The complaint alleges that while the patient was still hospitalized, Salcido entered his room and the two kissed.
After the juvenile male was discharged from the hospital, he later contacted Salcido and asked her to pick him up. Investigators say she picked him up near the hospital and drove him to her apartment.
According to the affidavit, the two consumed alcohol together before engaging in sexual acts. Investigators allege Salcido performed oral sex on the juvenile male and that the two also had sexual intercourse and engaged in additional sexual activity that night.
Court records state the juvenile male was later readmitted to the hospital and learned Salcido had resigned from her job at the facility.
The affidavit states the discovery left him feeling depressed and “used,” prompting him to confide in a hospital staff member. The disclosure was then reported to law enforcement, triggering the investigation.
A pretrial services assessment filed in the case lists the same seven felony charges and notes that Salcido has no prior violent convictions. The assessment recommended release on recognizance under the court’s pretrial scoring system.
Salcido was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center. The case remains pending in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court.
Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. He can be reached at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or on X at @damienwillis.
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