Woman Arrested in Peña Blanca After Homeowner Finds Intruder Inside

“Deputy Chavez made contact with the homeowner, who reported returning from out of town and discovering an unknown female inside her residence,” the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office wrote after the arrest in Peña Blanca. The woman identified by deputies as Beverly Gallegos of Peña Blanca was taken into custody following the homeowner’s report, the office said.

“In the early morning hours of Monday, February 16, 2026, deputies with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to the Peña Blanca area in reference to a reported residential burglary,” the agency wrote in its release reposted on the Justice For The Community Facebook page. The post, shared by admin Dejon TooBlessed Ruiz, included four images and showed three reactions and one share at the time it was captured.

According to the sheriff’s office statement, “The suspect had unlawfully entered the home, utilized personal amenities, and stolen U.S. currency and keys before fleeing the scene.” The homeowner reported that cash and the residence’s keys were missing after discovering the unknown woman in the home, prompting the call to deputies.

“Through his investigative techniques and extensive familiarity with the Peña Blanca community, Deputy Chavez was able to identify the suspect as Beverly Gallegos of Peña Blanca,” the release said. Deputies located Gallegos at a separate residence within Peña Blanca; “Deputies later located Gallegos at a separate residence within Peña Blanca, where she was taken into custody without incident,” the post added.

At the time of arrest, deputies say “She was found in possession of stolen currency and keys belonging to the victim’s residence.” The sheriff’s office did not list a dollar amount for the recovered U.S. currency in the Facebook post.

“Gallegos was booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center on applicable charges,” the release states, but it does not specify the statutes or the booking charge descriptions. The post frames the arrest as part of broader enforcement efforts, saying, “This arrest highlights the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office commitment to holding repeat offenders accountable. Deputy Chavez’s experience, professionalism, and knowledge of the community were instrumental in the successful apprehension of the suspect.”

The sheriff’s office release posted to social media is the primary source of details provided so far; it names Deputy Chavez, identifies the suspect as Beverly Gallegos, places the incident and arrest within Peña Blanca on Feb. 16, 2026, and confirms booking at the Sandoval County Detention Center. The release does not list the specific criminal charges, bail information, court dates, or whether Gallegos has retained counsel. Court filings and detention-center booking records should show any formal charges and next steps in the case.