Inmates accused in escape attempt

CLOVIS — Six inmates have been accused of trying to break out of the Curry County Adult Detention Center.

The incident happened the first week of last month but came to light Friday as all six were charged in Curry County Magistrate Court.

Justin L. Tipton, Damon A. Martinez, Marcello Garza, Tevyn W. Driever, Vicente J. Torres-Gurrola and Jesus L. Anaya Jr. were each charged with “Escape from jail” in violation of state law.

According to each of the affidavits for arrest warrants issued Feb. 2, Sgt. Sonny Wilcox of the Curry County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the detention center with jail Capt. Jaime Wornell who reported a section of stainless steel rod was missing from one of the showers.

There was a lockdown, a search and the rod was discovered as was damage to the cinderblock wall near the air vent in the cell. The rod showed evidence of being used to rub against the cinderblock wall.

Wornell told Wilcox that if the inmates had filed away enough of the cinderblock wall the inmates would have had access to the roof of the CCADC.

Investigators evaluated written reports of the incident, security video and body cam footage.

In part of the footage one of those charged could be seen tampering with the rod brackets and pulling and tugging on the rod until it broke free, records show.

Five of the inmates charged were interviewed about the incident, four denied any escape attempt and one was uncooperative and argumentative. The sixth inmate was transferred to the New Mexico Department of Corrections before being questioned about the incident.