BELEN—A Belen man has been charged with three felonies in connection with the burglary of a local elementary school — a crime he allegedly committed with an 8-year-old child in tow.
Robert Soliz, 31, of Belen, has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, commercial burglary and criminal damage to property of more than $1,000.
Soliz is accused of breaking into H.T. Jaramillo Elementary School on Esperanza Drive in Belen late on Sunday, July 26.
During the break in, a brand new Dell desktop computer was stolen and another was destroyed, according to a Belen Police Department Facebook post.
“The same individuals created a mess in the classroom by over turning all the desk(s) and chairs and throwing items throughout the classroom,” the post read. “The classroom appeared as if a tornado had gone through it.”
Belen Police Department Lt. Adam Keck said the school had surveillance cameras inside, and using that footage, plus help from an anonymous source, BPD Squad One — Sgt. Guy Sullenger, Sgt. Mario Vallejos and Officer Cade Baca — Soliz was identified and located on Tuesday, July 28.
The stolen computer was recovered and Soliz was charged but not arrested, Keck said.
The lieutenant said the case is now with the district attorney’s office and it’s up to them to prosecute.
The child was related to Soliz, Keck said, but not an immediate family member.
Julia M. Dendinger began working at the VCNB in 2006. She covers Valencia County government, Belen Consolidated Schools and the village of Bosque Farms. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande chapter’s board of directors.
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April 18, 2024
