SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. — A Farmington man is facing a third-degree felony charge after prosecutors filed a criminal complaint alleging unlawful sexual contact with a child under the age of 13, according to court records from Aztec Magistrate Court.
Joshawn Denetclarence, 24, is charged with Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (Child Under 13), a third-degree felony under New Mexico law. The alleged offense is listed as occurring on October 7, 2025, in San Juan County.
Court records show the case was filed on January 12, 2026, and remains pending. Denetclarence is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What Court Records Show
According to the criminal complaint and supporting affidavit:
- Investigators allege the offense involved a child who was six years old at the time.
- The allegation came to law enforcement after a disclosure was reported by a parent following a visitation period.
- Law enforcement conducted forensic interviews with the child and a sibling as part of the investigation.
- Based on those interviews and the investigation, a judge found probable cause for the felony charge.
The affidavit was reviewed and approved by the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office, leading to the filing of formal charges.
Pretrial Status
A Public Safety Assessment (PSA) was completed following Denetclarence’s arrest on January 13, 2026. The PSA indicated:
- A low risk of failure to appear in court
- A low risk of new criminal activity
- No automatic flag for new violent criminal activity
Under the PSA matrix, the case qualifies for release on own recognizance, though judges retain full discretion to impose conditions or restrictions. A PSA is a pretrial tool only and does not evaluate guilt or innocence.
What Happens Next
The case is expected to proceed through:
- Arraignment
- Determination of release conditions
- Possible transfer to district court
- Pretrial hearings and motions
No plea or disposition has been entered as of publication.
Important Note to Readers
Criminal complaints contain allegations, not findings of guilt.
San Juan Pulse reports on court filings and judicial proceedings as part of its public records coverage. The defendant is presumed innocent under the law.
For more San Juan County court coverage, see our previous report on the Cameron Lewis shooting case filed in Farmington.
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