Monday, November 24, 2025 I Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that David L. Baca (44) was sentenced on charges of 2 Counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration in 2nd Degree (Child Age 13-18), Aggravated Battery (Great Bodily Harm), False Imprisonment, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
The State was represented by Deputy District Attorney Garet Kartchner. Sixth Judicial District Court Judge, the Honorable Judge Hofacket presided at the hearing. Judge Hofacket sentenced BACA to 30 years to be served at New Mexico Department of Corrections. BACA must register as a sex offender.
On July 4, 2024, a Lordsburg Police Officer responded to a report of a sexual assault involving a 13-year-old child. The victim was observed running along Main Street, yelling for help. A passerby stopped to assist and noticed the child was barefoot. After transporting her safely to her home, the individual informed the family they were willing to speak with law enforcement and had recorded part of the incident starting when they picked her up. The child appeared to have consumed alcohol. She was taken to the Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City, New Mexico where she was examined by a specialized Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).
A forensic interview was conducted by Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) to ensure trauma-informed procedures were followed and to aid the investigation. During the interview, it was learned that the child had gone to a park where David BACA approached her and initiated a conversation. At some point, she offered him an alcoholic beverage she had taken from her home. The victim could not recall how she ended up near the loop with Baca but remembered him grabbing her by the neck and sexually assaulting her. She did not recall walking home afterward.
###
