CHIMAYO, N.M. -- A 9-year-old boy told police investigators that he saw his father shoot up heroin several times and that his dad injected him with heroin at least 10 times on the right side of his neck, police said.
New Mexico state police say Luke Velasquez's mother took him to the hospital after she found needle marks on his neck.
Authorities said she then called law enforcement and they arrested Jose Paul Velasquez Jr.
Jose Velasquez's family said they are shocked by the accusations and said he is a good father.
"It's just very shocking, in my opinion. I don't believe it. He's a good person. I believe he is a good dad," said Bertha Denetclaw.
Berta Denetclaw is Jose Velasquez's cousin and lived right across the street from him.
"I know (he) and his ex-girlfriend have had many, many issues through the years. There is some bad blood there. (These are) probably just accusations," Denetclaw said.
The criminal complaint said the boy's drug test came back positive for THC and opiates.
Luke's mother told officers that Jose Velasquez was the one injecting their son with the drugs. She said she knew the boy's father used heroin and cocaine.
"I find it hard very hard to believe he was doing that to his son," Denetclaw said.
Investigators said the reason Luke was with his father was because of a state-ordered child custody agreement. The mother is now battling for full custody of Luke and his sister.
Luke was not taken into state custody and is with his mother, investigators said.
Jose Velasquez faces felony counts of child abuse and contributing to a delinquency of a minor. If charged, he could face more than four years in prison, investigators said.
Read more: http://www.koat.com/news/28566778/detail.html#ixzz1SJoubysY
New Mexico state police say Luke Velasquez's mother took him to the hospital after she found needle marks on his neck.
Authorities said she then called law enforcement and they arrested Jose Paul Velasquez Jr.
Jose Velasquez's family said they are shocked by the accusations and said he is a good father.
"It's just very shocking, in my opinion. I don't believe it. He's a good person. I believe he is a good dad," said Bertha Denetclaw.
Berta Denetclaw is Jose Velasquez's cousin and lived right across the street from him.
"I know (he) and his ex-girlfriend have had many, many issues through the years. There is some bad blood there. (These are) probably just accusations," Denetclaw said.
The criminal complaint said the boy's drug test came back positive for THC and opiates.
Luke's mother told officers that Jose Velasquez was the one injecting their son with the drugs. She said she knew the boy's father used heroin and cocaine.
"I find it hard very hard to believe he was doing that to his son," Denetclaw said.
Investigators said the reason Luke was with his father was because of a state-ordered child custody agreement. The mother is now battling for full custody of Luke and his sister.
Luke was not taken into state custody and is with his mother, investigators said.
Jose Velasquez faces felony counts of child abuse and contributing to a delinquency of a minor. If charged, he could face more than four years in prison, investigators said.
Read more: http://www.koat.com/news/28566778/detail.html#ixzz1SJoubysY
