Sexual Predators Sentenced

Two San Juan County men were sentenced to prison for unrelated child sex crimes. 42 year-old Lariet Charles, of Bloomfield and Justin Pelt, age 24 of Waterflow were sentenced on the same day after lengthy investigations and entering pleas.

From the San Juan County Sheriff's Office:
On September 6, 2013, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into the manufacturing and possession of child pornography by a San Juan County resident. The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office (NMAGO) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which led to the arrest of 42 year-old Lariet Charles (L), of Bloomfield. On March 6, 2014, Charles was charged with two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children by Manufacturing; ten counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children by Possession; two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor in the 4th degree and two counts of Voyeurism. In March of 2016, Charles entered into a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to five of the nine counts as charged.

On August 2, 2016, Charles was sentenced by District Judge Townsend. For his crimes against children, Charles was sentenced to serve 15 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections (NMDOC). He was also ordered to comply with the New Mexico Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and he must register as a Sexual Offender for the remainder of his life. He must also successfully complete the Sex Offender Treatment Program (STOP).

On the same day, in a neighboring courtroom, District Judge Dean also handed down a prison sentence to another hands-on sexual offender. Justin Pelt (R), age 24 of Waterflow, was sentenced to serve 10 year in the NMDOC. Pelt pleaded guilty to Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor in the 2nd degree, for an offense that occurred in May of 2015. Pelt must also complete the STOP program and register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life. Pelt was previously charged in 2011 with one count of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor in the 4th degree. In March of 2012, Pelt entered a No Contest Plea to the charge of Aggravated Battery and was sentenced to probation for that offense in April of 2012 by Judge Hynes.