Judge Curtis Gurley revoked Wilcox’s release conditions.
Suspect Pete Wilcox, 35, of Farmington, was arrested July 19 after a standoff with SWAT and a domestic violence and child abuse incident.
A Farmington man accused of strangling his girlfriend and attacking the woman’s 15-year-old daughter will remain in jail until his trial.
U.S. District Judge Curtis Gurley ordered Peter Wilcox, 35, to remain in the San Juan County Jail after an hour-long hearing Friday to determine conditions of his release.
“I’ve learned my lesson and I’ll never do it again. I’m not a bad person. I want to be there for my dad,” a tearful Wilcox told the court after the verdict.
Wilcox had recently been taken into custody in connection with a domestic violence incident and standoff with SWAT that occurred at a home in the 1200 block of East 23rd Street on July 15. He was charged with first-degree felony child abuse, third-degree felony aggravated assault of a household member and fourth-degree felony false imprisonment.
Wilcox also faces two counts of aggravated assault against the same victim in March and April. He was released to pretrial services and participated in a court-based program every week, but then reoffended and was served with the new charges.
Pretrial Services Director Zulema Hernandez was assigned to oversee Wilcox and recommended the court “revoke” his release.
“He faces new charges,” Hernandez said, adding that he also “performed poorly under his supervision.”
In addition to the new charges, Wilcox also allegedly violated a restraining order by calling the victim’s phone number 27 times while in jail, according to Farmington Police Detective Donovan Stearns, who testified in court.
Stearns said the victim answered Wilcox’s phone twice and during those conversations Wilcox “was begging the victim in this case not to testify, not to come forward and not to cooperate.”
Stearns said Wilcox apologized for hurting the woman and her child and “said that if she would not come to court and testify he would leave her alone and never see her again.”
Stearns documented the injuries to the woman and child, reporting to the court that the woman had “black and blue eyes and bruising on her chest, arms and legs.”
Stearns also said there were “finger-sized blue-black marks” at the spot where the victim was allegedly strangled, as well as a wound on the top of her head.
Stearns said the 15-year-old daughter had a broken wrist and “had a cast or a makeshift cast on her right arm from elbow to wrist,” adding that she “also had injuries to her abdomen.”
Stearns said he fears for their safety if Wilcox is released, saying “people will continue to get hurt and things could accelerate.”
Wilcox took the stand to ask to be released, saying he lives with his father and goes to work at a construction site every day.
“My dad drove me to work so I couldn’t drive there,” he said, asking for a GPS monitor.
His lawyer, Mary Stubbeld, said the defendant would live in another part of town and wear a GPS monitor “so pretrial services and other supervision services can know that he is not in contact with the victim or returning to the scene.”
Stubbeld said prosecutors had not presented “clear and convincing evidence that Wilcox would pose a threat to others.”
But Assistant District Attorney Gertrude Lee said Wilcox “likely poses a threat to others.”
Lee said Wilcox “gamed the system and demonstrated a complete lack of remorse” and has four criminal charges pending against him.
“The victims are at very serious risk from the defendant based on his past behaviour and he has demonstrated the potential to become physically violent,” Lee said.
“The court will find that the state has met its responsibility and will revoke the conditions of release,” Judge Ghaly said, adding that Wilcox will remain in custody until the end of his trial.
Stubbeld then said Wilcox would waive a preliminary hearing that had been scheduled for after the pretrial detention hearing.
Judge Gurley has scheduled an arraignment and status hearing for 9 a.m. Aug. 12 in the 11th Judicial District Court in Aztec.
Copy article link
Tara Thomas Agency stands at the forefront of the entertainment industry, with years of experience dedicated to nurturing the most exceptional talents and successful acts.
