Vigil guilty of sexual assault

Staff Report

A Clayton man was convicted on July 15 in the Quay County District Court for the sexual assault of a mentally disabled Tucumcari resident.

George Vigil, Jr., 58, accepted a plea agreement deferring a nine-year prison sentence for 20 years of supervised probation and lifetime registration as a sex offender, said 10th Judicial District Attorney Tim Rose.

Vigil was arrested on March 10 by Union County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Quay County Sheriff’s Office. Vigil was charged with the criminal sexual penetration, a first-degree felony, witness intimidation, and battery against a mentally handicapped victim, who lives in Tucumcari.

Rose said the arrest was made after months of investigation that began on June 14, 2014, when the victim sought medical care stemming from a sexual assault allegedly committed by Vigil. He said medical staff notified authorities after becoming aware of the allegations.

Tucumcari Police Department was the initial agency that made contact with the victim. The case was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Division of the District Attorney’s office.

Due to the nature of the offenses committed against the victim, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Elder Abuse Division was contacted and provided assistance with the investigation, a press release said.

Any violation of the probation will result in Vigil serving the original nine-year prison sentence.