Private military contractor charged with soliciting child

CLOVIS — Local sheriff investigators on Tuesday arrested a private military contractor charged with soliciting a child.

Robert Luis Vigil, 21, of Portales, was charged with third-degree felony child solicitation by electronic communication device, according to a news release Friday from Curry County Sheriff Wesley Waller.

Investigators allege Vigil contacted an undercover chat profile — "representing a 14-year-old child (but) being managed by the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations — and that the "conversation became sexual in nature."

Vigil allegedly "arranged to meet the child in a public area of Chavez West housing at Cannon Air Force Base" and began walking toward the "prescribed location," but "began running back to his vehicle after seeing an approaching investigator."

Vigil was arrested "without further incident," said the release. He appeared Wednesday in court, where he pleaded not guilty and was approved for an unsecured appearance bond of $3,000 pending a preliminary examination Sept. 12, according to court records.

An OSI agent asked a CCSO investigator to "file appropriate charges" after having "determined that Vigil was a private contractor on base and not a military member," according to a criminal complaint.

Upon his arrest, "Vigil intially said that he was going for a walk, but later admitted that he was attempting to meet the 14-year-old child for sex," and used a Whisper app for the messages, said the complaint.

Records did not reflect an attorney representing Vigil as of Saturday.