Preciado pleads innocent to 14 child sex abuse felonies

QCS Staff

A former Tucumcari foster parent pleaded innocent to 14 felony counts that include sexual penetration of a minor and sexual contact with a minor counts Tuesday in Tenth Judicial District Court.

Manuel Preciado, 64, of Tucumcari, also had his bond reduced from $50,000 cash to $50,000 with 10 percent cash due, Tenth Judicial District Attorney Tim Rose said. Whether Preciado was freed on bond could not be determined Tuesday evening.

Preciado had been jailed since Jan. 20, when state police arrested him, state police Lt. Herbert Hinders said. Preciado was booked into the Quay County Detention Center, where he remained Wednesday, subject to a $50,000 cash-only bond.

Preciado was charged with the felony counts based on evidence he molested two teenage boys placed in his care, state police said.

According to court documents, on Jan. 8, state police interviewed one alleged victim, a 16-year-old boy, who said Preciado had committed sexual acts on him when the apparent victim was placed with Preciado in March 2013, and placed with Preciado again from March to August 2014.

One such incident resulted in a hospital stay for the apparent victim, according to state police statements in court documents.

Preciado would threaten the victim with witchcraft and reports that would get the boy into more trouble, court documents show.

In November 2014, Preciado was charged with five felony counts related to sexual contact of another victim after Preciado’s employer, Turqoise Health and Wellness, reported allegations against Preciado to state police. At that time, he was charged with kidnapping, criminal sexual contact of a minor, abuse of a child, false imprisonment and enticement of a child, according to a state police press release.

The Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) said that at the time of the Nov. 3 report, all children placed with Preciado were removed from his home and placed with other foster care providers, according to the state police press release. Preciado was booked into the Quay County Detention Center on Nov. 23. He was released on Dec. 4 after posting bond, court records show.

The case was sent to Tenth Judicial District Court on Dec. 23.