A San Juan County Magistrate Court judge has ordered a Farmington man to stand trial in district court following a preliminary examination related to alleged contraband brought into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center.

Court records show Curtivan B. Badonie, 31, was bound over for trial on felony charges after the court found probable cause that the alleged offenses were committed and that Badonie committed them.

The order was filed January 15, 2026, in San Juan County Magistrate Court, according to official court documents.

Charges Filed in the Case

According to the criminal complaint and bind-over order, Badonie faces the following felony charges:

• Conspiracy to Commit Bringing Contraband Into Jail (Fourth-Degree Felony)
• Tampering With Evidence (Fourth-Degree Felony)

The court dismissed a third count after finding insufficient probable cause to proceed on that specific allegation.

As required at this stage of the proceedings, the magistrate court did not determine guilt or innocence, but instead evaluated whether the prosecution presented enough evidence to move the case forward to district court.

Farmington police also investigated a reported Walmart robbery earlier this week, details of which are outlined in a separate report.

Allegations Outlined in Court Records

The allegations stem from an incident at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center in early January.

According to an affidavit filed by a San Juan County Sheriff’s Office deputy, correctional staff initiated a search after detecting the odor of marijuana smoke within a housing unit. During the search process, officers allegedly observed detainees handling an item believed to contain contraband.

Investigators allege that a book containing a concealed substance was passed between detainees and later recovered. Subsequent testing reportedly indicated the substance was presumptively positive for THC, with a documented weight of approximately 1.63 grams.

The affidavit further alleges that statements made by involved detainees were inconsistent, leading investigators to believe efforts may have been made to conceal or misrepresent the origin of the contraband.

Court Findings and Bind-Over Decision

During the preliminary examination, the court reviewed testimony, affidavits, and evidence presented by the prosecution.

In its written order, the court stated that probable cause existed for the conspiracy and tampering charges, and ordered Badonie bound over for trial in the Eleventh Judicial District Court.

However, the court found insufficient probable cause on one charge and formally dismissed that count.

Release Conditions and Legal Representation

Court documents indicate Badonie was released under non-monetary conditions with supervision through pretrial services. Conditions include compliance with court orders, maintaining contact with pretrial services, and appearing at all scheduled hearings.

Records also show that the Law Offices of the Public Defender were appointed to represent Badonie after the court found he qualified for appointed counsel.

What Happens Next

With the bind-over complete, the case now moves into district court, where prosecutors may file a formal criminal information and proceed toward arraignment, motion hearings, or other pretrial proceedings.

As with all criminal cases, Badonie is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This report is based solely on court filings and law enforcement documents and will be updated if additional information becomes available.