BLUEWATER, N.M. – A domestic dispute in the Village of Bluewater, New Mexico, on March 31 turned into a violent situation where Cibola County Sheriff’s Deputies had to intervene to rescue the woman who was allegedly being abused. Deputies arrested Christopher Luis Castillo for False Imprisonment, Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member (No Great Bodily Harm), Interference with Communications. On June 24, Castillo was indicted by a grand jury on these charges. This case is expected to go in front of a jury on January 23, 2023.
Cibola County Sheriff’s deputies received notice about a domestic abuse situation where a male was the victim of battery, around 8 p.m. the deputies began to travel with speed to Bluewater, N.M. When they arrived on scene, Castillo came to the house door dressed in a grey tank top that was soaked, deputies observed his forehead was also wet with sweat.
According to a police report, Castillo allegedly admitted to punching his wife in the face. Castillo told investigators the fight began when his wife came home and started yelling at him to fix their television, Castillo alleges that it was this point of the fight where his wife struck him in the face, causing a black eye. Castillo claimed to try breaking away from his wife who continued striking him until their teenage daughter physically intervened, Castillo said his wife left the residence at that point.
Deputies did not observe any bruises, swelling, or red marks on Castillo other than those which occurred due to crying.
CCSO deputies tracked down Castillo’s wife and went to speak with her a short way down the road. She claimed that the two began a verbal argument that quickly turned violent. Allegedly, Castillo pushed his wife down, several times, choked her, and “busted her lip” as she tried getting away from him, according to a police report. The wife explained that her head hurt by the ponytail area where she claimed Castillo had grabbed her.
According to reports, Castillo grabbed his wife’s phone and refused to give it back to her, which is where the tempering with communications charge comes from.
Deputies observed a cut on the wife’s lip and swelling on her cheeks. There was a “bluish-purple” bruise over her right eye and bruises forming on her arms. She was taken to Cibola General Hospital by ambulance. It was at the hospital that the woman decided to press charges against Castillo.
Castillo was indicted on False Imprisonment, a fourth degree felony; Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member (No Great Bodily Harm), a misdemeanor; and Interference with Communications, a misdemeanor.