Man accused of stealing guns faces new charges
A former security officer charged with stealing several guns and other items from a New Mexico National Guard contractor is now accused of stealing from another previous employer.
Felony burglary and larceny charges have been filed against Jacob S. Santillanes, 31, of Pecos. Santillanes already faces multiple felony charges related to missing firearms taken from a guard shack where he used to work, and for allegedly selling one of those guns to a man via Facebook Messenger.
The new charges were filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court on Jan. 5; however, the charges stem from a burglary that took place on Nov. 11, 2021.
New Mexico State Police began investigating a burglary at a Dollar General store in Pecos after obtaining security camera footage of two men entering the store on Nov. 11.
Surveillance video reviewed by police showed two men enter the store through the front doors using a key, according to the affidavit. One of the men attempted to disable the security alarm by entering a code on a keypad, and though the code did not work, he was able to successfully open a safe. After removing some cash, the man relocked the safe, and both men left the building through the front door, which they relocked using a key.
Police responded to the store that night because the security alarm had been triggered, but officers didn’t find anyone in the building. A manager checked the safe, but it appeared the cash inside hadn’t been touched and officers left. When store management later counted the cash and reviewed the security footage, police were called back to the store to investigate.
Both men seen in the video were wearing masks that covered their faces, but store managers identified one of the men as Santillanes — a former assistant manager — based on his clothing and mannerisms.
Santillanes had been fired just prior to the break-in, according to the affidavit. Store management had received an anonymous internal tip that Santillanes had stolen from the company, and when managers attempted to discuss the accusation with Santillanes, he did not show up for two scheduled meetings.
After being fired, Santillanes was asked to turn in his keys to the store. Managers told police he returned a set of keys, but they later discovered the keys were not keys to the store.
Police have not publicly identified the second man in the surveillance video.
As the Optic previously reported, Santillanes was questioned by NMSP officers in Santa Fe on Dec. 8 after a security contractor for the National Guard reported that 15 firearms had been stolen from a locked cabinet inside its guard shack.
Santillanes had been working as a security guard for the company but was fired after admitting to using fentanyl while on duty, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Santa Fe Magistrate Court. Santillanes also admitted to taking firearms from the locked cabinet.
Police arrested Santillanes on two outstanding arrest warrants. He was booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center Dec. 8 and released on Dec. 10 after posting bond.
Santillanes was arrested on charges related to the stolen guns on Dec. 18 and again booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center. NMSP investigators questioned Santillanes about the Dollar General break-in, and he told police he’d accidentally turned in the wrong keys, according to the arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. He also denied having any role in the theft of cash from the safe.
Santillanes was released from the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center Dec. 21 after posting 10 percent of a $2,500 bond.
The day after Christmas, a man in Rowe called police to say that he’d purchased a handgun from Santillanes. The man became concerned that the gun could be stolen after he saw a news article about the guns stolen in Santa Fe. Police checked the serial number on the gun he’d purchased and found that it had been reported stolen.
Police searched Santillanes’ apartment in Pecos and located a large tote bag “nearly full to the top” with cannabis, along with two digital scales, according to an affidavit.
In the case involving the stolen guns, Santillanes is charged with seven felony counts of larceny of a firearm, one count of felony larceny and five counts of misdemeanor larceny.
In the case involving the sale of the firearm and the cannabis found in his apartment, Santillanes has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, felony attempt to distribute cannabinoids and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, along with two felony counts of receiving a stolen firearm and unlawful sale of a firearm without a federal background check.
In the Dollar General case, Santillanes is charged with one count of non-residential burglary, and one count of larceny, both felonies.
Santillanes was not in custody as of this writing and is sought by police on two warrants, one issued on Dec. 29 and one issued Jan. 5.
