A Farmington man has been charged with criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third degree after investigators reported allegations tied to a Motel 6 stay in Farmington, according to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court. The allegations reference conduct reported to have occurred between December 2019 and December 2020.

Forensic interview findings

According to the complaint, a detective attended a child forensic interview on Feb. 4, 2026, at a Childhaven facility in Farmington. Investigators wrote that the child described an incident at a Motel 6 when she was about 9 years old.

The child reported that she, her mother, and the defendant stayed overnight while traveling. She stated she fell asleep in one of two beds in the room and later woke up to the defendant touching her inappropriately, according to the affidavit.

Drawing and location identification

Investigators reported the child created a drawing of the motel room layout, including two beds, a dresser, a restroom, and a door. The drawing included stick figures representing the child and the defendant in one bed, according to the affidavit.

The child also drew an object she described as a glass meth pipe and told investigators she could smell beer and meth during the incident. She described meth as a “white rock” placed into the pipe, according to the report.

Investigators wrote that the child identified the location as a Motel 6 in Farmington near East Elm Street and East Cedar Street.

Motel records and timeline

According to the affidavit, an employee at the Motel 6 provided records showing nine separate stays associated with the defendant between December 2019 and December 2020. Eight of those stays were listed as rooms with two beds.

The records showed multiple stays during 2020, including July and December dates, and one stay in December 2019. Investigators wrote that these records indicated the defendant commonly stayed at the motel during the time frame referenced in the allegation.

Interview with the defendant

Christopher Irving was interviewed by investigators on March 18, 2026, after being advised of his rights. According to the affidavit, he denied staying at the Motel 6 with the child and initially stated he had not stayed at that location for many years.

Investigators wrote that after being confronted with motel records, the defendant acknowledged staying at the Motel 6 on one occasion but stated it was with another adult and not with the child or her mother. He later stated he may have stayed there twice in Farmington and mentioned other stays in Albuquerque.

According to the affidavit, the defendant denied any inappropriate conduct involving the child and denied being intoxicated around children. Investigators wrote that he later acknowledged consuming alcohol around children in the past after being confronted during the interview.

Additional investigation

Investigators documented that the defendant provided a DNA buccal swab and agreed to take a polygraph examination at a later date. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed the defendant arriving near the police department prior to the interview.

Investigators also contacted the child’s mother, who told police she had not witnessed any incident and that the child had not previously disclosed such allegations to her, according to the affidavit.

Charges filed

• Criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third degree (child under 13 years of age), a third-degree felony

The investigation also involved DNA evidence collection, similar to a recent Aztec case involving a felony charge tied to a DNA match, according to court records.

Case status

The charge was filed in Farmington Magistrate Court. Booking records show the defendant was later booked into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center on March 25, 2026, with a hold pending.

Source

Information in this article was obtained from a criminal complaint and supporting affidavit filed in Farmington Magistrate Court, along with detention center booking records.

Christopher Irving is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are allegations. No determination of guilt has been made.