Former Valencia County first responder charged with child sexual abuse counts

A child’s disclosure to a trusted adult led investigators to arrest Jerrett Fleming, 44, of El Cerro Mission, on multiple child sexual abuse charges, after the child later underwent a medical check.

Fleming was booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on Thursday, March 26, and later released to pretrial services with a GPS monitoring unit. New Mexico State Police charged him with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual penetration, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of enticement of a child.

Court documents and local reporting say the alleged incidents stretched across a long period, with reported abuse said to have occurred in late February 2024 and again near the end of January 2026. New Mexico law classifies criminal sexual penetration in the first degree as a first-degree felony.

The case has also raised questions about trust inside a department that depends on public confidence. Valencia County Fire Chief Matt Propp said the fire department learned of Fleming’s arrest on April 1 and placed him on administrative leave immediately. Propp also said the department later learned Fleming had resigned on March 30. The Valencia County Fire Department serves the unincorporated areas of the county and provides mutual aid to Los Lunas, Belen, Rio Communities, Peralta and Bosque Farms. County officials say the department handles close to 7,000 calls a year.

That combination of emergency response access and child abuse allegations has sharpened the policy questions around vetting, supervision and resignation handling at local agencies, especially when a worker holds a position that brings routine contact with families and children. The department’s leadership now faces the reputational fallout that follows any arrest of a first responder, along with the practical question of how quickly concerns move through agency channels when an employee leaves under criminal investigation.

Child welfare officials say the case also underscores warning signs trusted adults should not ignore. The Children, Youth and Families Department says anyone who knows or reasonably suspects a child is being abused or neglected must report it immediately through Statewide Central Intake at 1-855-333-SAFE, or #SAFE from a cell phone. Michelle Aldana, statewide director of forensic services, has urged families to tell children they can talk about anything without getting in trouble and to watch for behavioral changes that may signal abuse. She also stressed teaching children the correct names for body parts and clear body-safety language.

The timing has put the case alongside Child Abuse Prevention Month messaging across New Mexico, with CYFD and community partners highlighting reporting obligations and support services. UNM Hospital is also offering resources for families, reinforcing the same message that investigators and child advocates repeat throughout the year: when a child speaks, adults must act quickly.