Woman charged in arson apprehended

CLOVIS — A woman charged with felony arson for a July 27 structure fire in Portales was apprehended Friday after more than two weeks at large.

Patricia Villanueva, 38, of Portales, was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center on Friday afternoon and transferred Monday to the Roosevelt County jail on charges of arson, criminal damage to property and probation violation.

She remained in custody without bond awaiting an arraignment yet to be scheduled.

Fire marshal investigators charged Villanueva, also known as Patricia Meeks, on July 29 with second-degree felony arson for the structure fire two days earlier on the 300 block of North Avenue I.

The property owner told investigators that Villanueva “had made statements in regard to starting this fire” after being told to vacate the property, according to court records. Portales Fire Marshal Scott Candelaria told investigators that “Villanueva has been suspected of causing several other fires in the tri-county area,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Court records on Monday showed Villanueva was only charged with the blaze in Portales.

Records did not reflect an attorney representing Villanueva.