Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office arrests Las Vegas fugitive wanted for child rape

Jonas Romero was taken into custody in the Rio Rancho Estates area after the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit received information he was hiding in Rio Rancho, the agency said. The arrest happened in the early morning hours of February 13, 2026, and Romero was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant for Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office said its K9 Unit led the location and arrest and that the action followed coordinated efforts involving the Patrol Division, Detective Division, a federal law enforcement partner, and the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. SCSO posted on social media: “After coordinated efforts between the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Detective Division, a federal law enforcement partner, and the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Jonas Romero was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant for Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor.”

Rrobserver reporting tied Romero’s arrest to an investigation originating in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and provided additional investigative detail. Rrobserver said FBI officers, during victim interviews, learned that a second subject identified as Lee Jr. used the nickname “King Tat” and Romero used “Yung Tat,” and that both men were described as aspiring rap artists. Rrobserver wrote: “Through the course of interviews with the victims, FBI officers learned that Lee Jr., who identified as ‘King Tat,’ and Romero, who identified as ‘Yung Tat’, were aspiring rap artists.” The story also notes officers located an interview with Romero in the Las Vegas Optic that helped confirm a connection between Romero and Lee Jr.

Legal exposure reported by Rrobserver remains substantial if prosecutions move forward. Rrobserver noted that “Lee Jr. could face life in prison if he is convicted. Romero could face 12 or more years if he is convicted.” Those potential sentences were reported as possibilities; Romero remains in custody on the active warrant as officials work through next steps.

The sheriff’s office used strong language in its Facebook post about pursuing fugitives and protecting children, including: “The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate fugitives hiding within our county. We will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners to locate, pursue, and apprehend individuals who believe they can evade accountability,” and “Those who prey on children should understand one thing, we will relentlessly pursue justice to ensure they are held accountable.” SCSO appended hashtags to the post: #SandovalCounty #NoSafeHaven #ProtectOurChildren. The Facebook post drew roughly 2.3K reactions, 440 comments and 289 shares; user comments included Marsha Hyde saying, “The judicial system must start making examples out of these predators,” and Trina Lopez asking, “Who in Rio Rancho was hiding him?”

Key procedural details remain unresolved. The sheriff’s post and Rrobserver account do not include booking records, a facility where Romero is held, bail or arraignment dates, or whether the unnamed federal partner cited by SCSO was the FBI. Reporters have identified follow-up steps: obtain Romero’s booking record and court date, confirm the identity and role of the federal partner, request comment from the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office about charges and extradition, and secure the Las Vegas Optic interview cited by investigators.