Sheriff Blasts D.A. & Judge After Andrew Long Sentencing

Andrew Long (Courtesy: San Juan County Sheriff's Office)

“The lack of spine from all involved is appalling; to sentence this predator to our county jail and utilize county resources on a state conviction is absurd. This individual should be in a state prison, he should not be allowed unsupervised visits and work release. Child pornography is not a victimless crime! If we are not willing to protect our children, what are we willing to do?”

From the San Juan Co. Sheriff's Office:

Andrew Long, of Bloomfield, NM was sentenced today to one year, including time served at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center. Andrew is required to register as a sex offender for the entirety of his life but is expected to only serve a remaining 8 months in jail. Judge Dalley approved for Andrew to serve his time at the local detention center, receive work release and have unsupervised visits with his young children.

In December of 2016, Andrew was charged with 3 Felonies; Possession, Manufacturing and Distribution of Visual Medium of Sexual Exploitation of Children. On August 11th, 2017 Andrew was arrested again on five additional Felony charges consisting of 2 counts Manufacturing, 2 counts Distribution and 1 count Possession of Visual Medium of Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Through the investigation, over 5,800 images of child pornography that included primarily toddlers and infants under 12 months old were traced back to Mr. Long.

Andrew Long was facing up to 93 years in prison, but the District Attorney’s office accepted a guilty plea from Mr. Long on only one charge and dropped the rest. This resulted in a significant reduction from 93 years to an 11-year maximum and 1 year minimum. Andrew Long was ultimately found guilty of 1 count Possession of Visual Medium of Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Sheriff Ken Christesen has provided a statement regarding the sentencing hearing that took place this morning in Aztec District Court.

“The lack of spine from all involved is appalling; to sentence this predator to our county jail and utilize county resources on a state conviction is absurd. This individual should be in a state prison, he should not be allowed unsupervised visits and work release. Child pornography is not a victimless crime! If we are not willing to protect our children, what are we willing to do?”

More from Local News

  • Navajo Nation agrees (again) to help fund N-36/NM 371 Intersection Improvements

    The agreement authorizes NDOT to transfer $2,790,647 to NMDOT to administer procurement and construction of the NM371/N36 Intersection Improvement Project. This long-needed project will include roadway widening and the installation of a traffic signal and lighting system designed to reduce accidents, improve traffic flow, and enhance overall public safety for residents, school buses, emergency responders, and travelers who rely on this heavily used corridor.

  • Racing Commission Approves SunRay Move to Clovis

    The move will not affect the 2026 racing season in San Juan County.  Live racing is scheduled for April 17 – May 24, 2026. San Juan County has previously said that McGee Park and the San Juan County Fairgrounds would not be impacted by any changes at the casino and horse racing track.

  • *Update* Arrest Made in Child's Death

     The suspect, John Hannon, the child’s father, was arrested on 2/9/26 on unrelated charges. He was served with the following charges while at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center:

  • 90 Dogs Rescued in Bloomfield

    The rescue effort also received substantial financial support, from various donors. This outside support significantly reduced the financial impact on local resources and ensured the operation did not place a major burden on San Juan County taxpayers.

  • Resident Dies after House Fire N. of Aztec

    Crews arrived to find a structure on fire and the occupant inside.  Despite a quick response from fire crews and efforts by San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputies, one occupant was removed from the structure by firefighters and transported to the hospital by San Juan Regional Medical Center EMS. The occupant was pronounced dead at the hospital.

  • Diné College Selects New President

    Dr. Jackson-Dennison, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné), brings nearly four decades of experience in educational leadership, with a career dedicated to advancing Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and academic excellence. Her leadership reflects a unique ability to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems with Western academic frameworks, a hallmark of her scholarship and professional practice.

On KSJE Now:

Today's Weather

  • Farmington, NM

    Sunny intervals

    High: 55°F | Low: 23°F

  • Durango, CO

    Sunny intervals

    High: 52°F | Low: 16°F

  • Shiprock, NM

    Sunny intervals

    High: 59°F | Low: 27°F

  • Cortez, CO

    Sunny intervals

    High: 55°F | Low: 23°F

  • Santa Fe, NM

    Sunny intervals

    High: 54°F | Low: 28°F