Chaves County Detention Center officer accused of raping inmate

CHAVES COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A detention officer at the Chaves County Detention Center is wanted for rape after getting caught on camera kissing an inmate. Jeffrey Romero is facing a charge of criminal sexual penetration after an inmate told police he used his position to rape her back in January.

According to the criminal complaint, security cameras caught the officer forcibly holding the inmate and kissing her before moving on to a camera blind spot. An arrest warrant has been issued for Romero.