Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

…Jordan Padilla faces more than 270 years of potential incarceration…

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Friday that Jordan Padilla was convicted on 25 felony counts, including charges of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13 years of age, solicitation to commit criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 13 years of age, criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13 years of age, false imprisonment, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sexual exploitation of children by recording, manufacturing, and possession.

“This case is a reminder that children deserve the full protection of the law and that my office will continue to zealously pursue justice in cases involving the sexual exploitation of children,” Balderas said. “Everyone in the community can play a part in protecting children by reporting abuse.”

According to court documents, as well as evidence and testimony admitted during the trial, the Defendant recorded himself sexually abusing a preschooler in 2015 and 2016. These videos remained uncovered until 5 years later, in 2020, when a concerned citizen found the recordings on the Defendant’s tablet-computer and initiated the reporting of this crime.

The New Mexico Office of the Attorney General (NMAGO) executed multiple warrants on the Defendant’s home and recovered more electronic devices. NMAGO Forensic examiners reviewed these devices and found that these devices, including the Defendant’s phone, contained thousands of depictions of child sexual abuse materials.

Padilla faces more than 270 years of potential incarceration at sentencing, with a mandatory minimum of 18 years in prison.

The child survivor in this case remains unidentified, and the investigation regarding her identity remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General ICAC Unit at 505.717.3500.

This case was investigated by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General and prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Caitlin L. Dillon and Mark Probasco.