Bernalillo County jury convicts Albuquerque man in child sex abuse case

On June 26, a Bernalillo County jury convicted Albuquerque resident Steven Dimas of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl, finding him guilty of three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13 and one count of intimidation of a witness. Dimas is 47. Dimas threatened the child and told her not to tell anyone.

New Mexico law defines criminal sexual contact of a minor as the unlawful and intentional touching of, or applying force to, the intimate parts of a minor, or causing a minor to touch the defendant’s intimate parts. The conviction leaves Dimas facing up to 21 years in the New Mexico Corrections Department and moves the case into the sentencing phase, where the court will set the punishment within that range.

In a Bernalillo County appeal decided late last year, police requested a forensic interview and then a medical examination after a child disclosed abuse. A separate New Mexico Court of Appeals opinion held that the state has a strong public policy to protect child victims from further trauma in court. All Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center in Albuquerque brings law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy professionals together for children and families.

Families who need help can call the Albuquerque Family Advocacy Center at 505-243-2333, where after-hours calls are answered by victim advocates. The Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico is at 505-266-7711, the Domestic Violence Resource Center at 505-248-3165, and SANE at 505-883-8720. New Mexico CYFD’s child abuse hotline is 1-855-333-SAFE, or #SAFE from a cell phone, and All Faiths offers walk-in crisis stabilization at 1709 Moon St. NE during business hours and 24/7 telephone support at 505-526-1536.