Written by Officer Ray Wilson 05/20/2022
Cibola County, NM – On May 19, New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents were requested by the New Mexico State Police Uniform Bureau to investigate a former Western New Mexico Correctional Facility (WNMCF) correctional officer (CO) for having sex with a female inmate.
Agents learned that on or about April 26, the New Mexico Department of Corrections Security Threat Investigations Unit (STIU) began an investigation on then CO Robert Smith, 37, of Milan, NM, for bringing contraband into the prison and giving it to female inmates. Through investigation, they also learned that Smith had an ongoing relationship and had been engaging in sexual acts with a female inmate. STIU told agents Smith resigned from WNMCF in April shortly after the investigation was initiated.
On May 19, New Mexico State Police agents interviewed Smith, who admitted to having sexual relations with a female inmate on two occasions between January and April of 2022. Smith said he would bring cigarettes, food, sodas, hand sanitizer, and earrings to the female inmate.
Smith was arrested by New Mexico State Police agents and booked into the Cibola County Correctional Center charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration by an Official in a Position of Authority over an Inmate, a second-degree felony, and one count of Bringing Contraband onto Prison Grounds, a third-degree felony.
This case is being investigated by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau with assistance from the Department of Corrections.
