A Farmington man has been charged with abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm after investigators alleged a 14-year-old girl suffered severe facial injuries inside a Farmington residence, according to a criminal complaint and arrest affidavit.
Marquez Manuel Smith, 23, was charged in San Juan County Magistrate Court with one count of abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm. All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
According to the affidavit, Farmington police responded July 13 after receiving information that a 14-year-old girl was being treated in a hospital emergency room for serious injuries and was awaiting surgery. Investigators reported the girl’s lower lip had been severely torn, and medical personnel advised the injury appeared consistent with a human bite, although a physician reportedly could not immediately determine whether it was caused by a person or an animal.
According to the affidavit, investigators reported the girl required plastic surgery to repair the injury to her lower lip. Investigators also reported observing scratches and redness on the girl’s neck, which the affidavit later describes as consistent with alleged strangulation, along with injuries investigators believed could be consistent with additional human bite marks on her shoulder and back.
Investigators reported photographing the girl’s injuries and collecting DNA swabs from the alleged bite marks. According to the affidavit, detectives also sought search warrants to document the residence, collect additional DNA evidence and obtain a buccal swab from Smith for comparison.
According to the affidavit, investigators interviewed two juvenile witnesses who said they awoke after hearing the girl scream for help. One witness allegedly told detectives she entered the living room after hearing the girl scream for help and found Smith and the injured girl inside the residence. The witness further stated Smith told her the girl had been trying to leave the house to see a boy.
The affidavit alleges the juveniles attempted to clean the girl’s injuries before going to a neighbor’s residence, where the neighbor transported her to the hospital. Investigators reported the juveniles told them they did not witness the alleged assault but heard the girl screaming.
According to the affidavit, the injured girl later told investigators Smith accused her of attempting to sneak out of the house. Court records state she denied attempting to leave and said she had only been trying to go to the bathroom when Smith allegedly bit her face and lower lip, strangled her and allegedly caused additional bite injuries. The affidavit states the girl told investigators she confronted Smith because she believed he had been drinking before the incident.
Charges Filed
- One count of abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm.
Case Status
Court records indicate an arrest warrant was issued July 13, 2026, and served later that day. The warrant states Smith was ordered held pending a hearing. Court records reviewed by San Juan Pulse did not indicate whether Smith had retained legal counsel. The defendant could not be reached for comment.
Source
According to a criminal complaint, statement of probable cause, affidavit for arrest warrant and arrest warrant filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.
Legal Disclaimer
All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.