Chaparrel, NM man charged with wife rape

Armando Quezada, a 32 year old Chaparrel, NM man, was arrested after attempting to flee from deputies after the alleged rape of his estranged wife in front of their 18 month old daugter in the kitchen of their home, according to Dona Ana Sheriff's Office (DASO) investigator Bo Nevarez. Quezada was arrested after an hour long chase.

It was a sharp-eyed deputy who spotted Quezada just inside Doña Ana County and launched a pursuit that crossed over into Otero County, Nevarez said. Quezada was spotted driving in Chaparral with a 17-year-old female passenger.

Because deputies hold law enforcement authority across county lines, the DASO deputy attempted to radio Otero officials, but none were able to respond before Quezada was likely to hit the Texas state line, Nevarez said.

Nevarez said the arrest is a perfect example of why the counties cooperate on law enforcement. If the DASO deputy had to break off pursuit at the Otero County line, Quezada might have avoided arrest.

Quezada, a felon recently released from a Texas prison, was found with a loaded shotgun and ammunition between the seats of the floor.

Quezada is charged with forcible confinement, criminal sexual penetration, and false imprisonment. He is also charged with being a felon inposession of a firearm, and is being held on $30,000 bond.