Plea agreement reached in child abuse, sex assault case
A trial slated to begin this month for a case involving a Luna Community College employee will not be necessary after a plea agreement was recently reached.
Christopher M. Chavez, 39, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to interference with communications and attempting to commit false imprisonment, both misdemeanors.
Following his initial arrest in September 2018, Chavez was charged with three felonies: criminal sexual penetration, abuse of a child and false imprisonment. He was also charged with three misdemeanors: aggravated battery on a household member, and two counts of interference with communications. Under the plea deal, those charges will be dismissed, provided Chavez does not violate the terms of the agreement.
The plea will require Chavez to serve two years unsupervised probation, complete a battery intervention program, complete an alternative sentencing education program and he must submit to random substance abuse screenings. The court also ordered that Chavez cannot possess a firearm, possess or consume any drugs or alcohol and he is prohibited from entering any liquor establishment.
President of Luna Community College, Dr. Rolando Rael, told the Optic he would not comment on specific employees, but he did confirm Chavez is still employed by Luna.
“Chris Chavez remains an employee of Luna Community College and, as is the case with all others, he has the right to due process,” Rael said in an email.
Jesse Gallegos, Luna’s public relations coordinator, also confirmed via email that Chavez is still employed by Luna Community College, adding that Chavez “is not on any form of leave.” Luna’s staff directory lists Chavez as a “Warehouse Technician,” and Chavez is the only employee listed for the Warehouse department.
Chavez was initially arrested in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2018, when Las Vegas Police responded to a report of a woman being sexually assaulted while a young child was in the room.
In November 2018, the case was transferred from San Miguel Magistrate Court to the Fourth Judicial District Court, where a jury trial was scheduled for June 18.
Chavez was arrested again in late January for violating the conditions of his release while free on bond, and he served nine days in the San Miguel County Detention Center before new conditions of release were issued by the court.
The plea agreement was reached in April, and the case was remanded back to Magistrate Court, which can modify any terms of the deal if Chavez violates the conditions imposed.
