• (David) Morales also admitted to breaking the window multiple times in the back of the house to get in

 

A Rio Rancho man could spend a few years in prison after he allegedly broke into his own house using an unknown object and violated a protection order. 

At about 3:30 a.m. April 15, the Rio Rancho Police Department received a call concerning a welfare check on a home on the 3600 block of Buckskin Loop NE. 

The RRPD did a safety sweep of the perimeter of the house, which belongs to 46-year-old David Morales and his estranged wife. After police officers announced their presence through a PA, they saw Morales leave the house and arrested him.  

The suspect told officers that it was his house and that it was “not his fault his wife had a new boyfriend,” according to a criminal complaint.  

One of the officers asked why the suspect broke the window to get into his own home and he said, “The police took my keys.” This indicated that “he did know he was not supposed to be in the residence,” the complaint states.

Morales also admitted to breaking the window multiple times in the back of the house to get in. The complaint does not state what was used to break the window.

The day before, Morales was served with a temporary restraining order by the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office regarding his wife. 

Morales was taken to the Sandoval County Detention Center. He faces charges of residential burglary, a third-degree felony, and aggravated stalking (violation of protection order), a fourth-degree felony.  

Morales gave no plea at an April 18 initial appearance and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 11.  

If convicted, he could face up to 4.5 years in prison and pay a $10,000 fine.