Judge orders Porter held without bond in Las Cruces tattoo shop assault case
A judge ordered a Las Cruces tattoo artist held without bond, citing danger to the community and strong evidence in a sexual assault case tied to allegations at Porter House Ink.
Court cites danger to the community and strong evidence in case tied to alleged April 8 assault at Porter House Ink
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A judge has ordered Billy Joe Porter held without bond in connection with an alleged April 8 sexual assault at Porter House Ink, finding that no release conditions would reasonably protect the community, according to court records.
In a written order filed Thursday, Judge Douglas Driggers found Porter posed an ongoing danger and that the evidence against him is strong. The ruling came after prosecutors sought pretrial detention, arguing Porter should remain in custody pending trial.
Porter, 37, faces four counts of criminal sexual penetration in the second degree, one count of criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree and one count of providing alcohol to a minor in connection with the reported incident at his Las Cruces tattoo shop, located at 1204 E. Lohman Ave.
The judge’s ruling tracks arguments laid out in the state’s amended motion for pretrial detention, which argued Porter targeted a vulnerable victim during a tattoo appointment, provided her alcohol and assaulted her over the course of several hours, according to court filings.
Damien Willis
In arguing the evidence was strong, prosecutors pointed to findings from a sexual assault examination, documented injuries and other investigative evidence they said corroborated the victim’s account and timeline, court records show.
The state also argued Porter posed a continued danger if released, citing the nature of the allegations, the victim’s vulnerability and Porter’s criminal history. Prosecutors also referenced a 2022 case involving similar allegations that was ultimately dismissed.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23 at 1:30 p.m. Court records state prosecutors intend to seek an indictment before that hearing.
In a related development, Organ Mountain News previously reported that the alleged victim filed separate protection order petitions against Porter and his wife, Andrea Porter. A judge granted a temporary order against Billy Porter, with a hearing on whether a longer-term order of protection should be issued scheduled for April 22.
The judge denied the petition against Andrea Porter, writing in a ruling filed Tuesday that the “assault was not done by this Respondent.”
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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