old daughter Monique was released from the Eddy County Detention Center June 3 as the case continues, despite a motion from the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office that he be incarcerated ahead of trial.

Jayden Mendibles, 21, was charged in June with a single count of abandonment or abuse of a child resulting in death, a first-degree felony. Police accused Mendibles of beating his daughter to death in November 2023, after a multimonth investigation and autopsy of the girl.

Records show Mendibles was arrested June 21 and booked at the Eddy County Detention Center, then released about a week and a half later after prosecutors and the defense agreed on release conditions.

Mendibles was released on a $250,000 unsecured appearance bond, and under electronic monitoring during the court proceedings, according to a court order signed by Fifth Judicial District Judge Lisa Riley. He was ordered to maintain contact with his attorney and reside at a home in Albuquerque.

The defendant also must not violate any law, posses any weapons or return to the location of the baby’s death in the 280 block of Kincaid Ranch Road.

Mendibles was also barred from contact with any children younger than 13, except his son when approved by the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), or with any witnesses or anyone who could testify in the case. He can speak with family members who could be witnesses, the order read, but was ordered not to discuss the case.

The June 2 order signed by Riley withdrew a motion by the prosecution to hold Mendible in pretrial detention, after negotiations with his defense attorney.

The withdrawn motion, filed on June 25 argued Mendibles should be held without bail because he “poses a danger to victim and the community.”

Prosecutors cited the severity of the injuries Monique suffered allegedly at the hands of Mendibles, and reports of damage found to a door at the home which “appeared to be smashed in,” read the motion.

“The defendant in this case has shown a pattern of violence,” read the motion. “The evidence in this case supports the State’s request to hold the defendant without bail pending trial.”

Girl suffered ‘severe, violent trauma,’ police say Pediatrician Jennifer Hansen reported Monique’s death was caused by “violent, abusive head trauma,” read a criminal complaint. Other medical reports indicated the injuries were inconsistent with a short fall off the bed, which Mendibles described to officers during the investigation.

Mendibles initially reported he awoke in his bed Nov. 17, 2023, where the girl was also sleeping, to a “smacking sound” of something hitting the ground, the complaint read. He told police he found Monique lying on the floor, the complaint read. Monique was flown to Lubbock for surgery where her brain was reportedly swollen and 60 percent of her skull was removed to lessen the pressure, police said. She went into cardiac arrest but was resuscitated, then died on Nov. 21, 2023.

Medical staff said she suffered three separate skull fractures, a brain bleed and hemorrhages in both eye sockets, read the complaint. The injuries were deemed “nonaccidental trauma” at the hospital, and inconsistent with Mendibles’ testimony to police.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-972-6855, achedden@currentargus. com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.store on Main Street.

El Rito Media More work needed to be done before Eddy County issued millions of dollars in bonds to a Colorado company for a large renewable energy battery facility north of Carlsbad, said the James “Bo” Bowen chairperson of the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners.

Bowen said most utility projects are ready for work to begin before Eddy County issues industrial revenue bonds (IRBs).

“This one doesn’t seem it’s quite there,” he said after Tuesday’s County Commission meeting as Peregrine Energy presented information on the proposed Pecos River Energy Storage System Project.

Bowen said further discussions might be needed with the Boulder based multi-technology clean energy company before bonds are issued.

In its proposal Peregrine sought an IRB of $230 million for up to 30 years to construct a 150-megawatt (MW) storage unit on nearly 30 acres north of Carlsbad near the George Shoup Relief Route.

The project would be on private land outside of the Carlsbad City Limits, read the proposal.

IRBs are used as a tool encouraging business expansions and locations, job growth and capital investment, according to information from the State of New Mexico.

Peregrine Energy’s proposal stated no public funds were used in IRBs and the request bonds did not impact Eddy County finances.

Peregrine Project Manager Dustin Ingram said the proposed site would house nearly 100 individual battery storage units inside a building looking like a shipping container.

The proposed facility would connect with Xcel Energy power lines and provide energy capacity during high demands for electricity, Ingram said.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted most energy storage facilities in the United States used the electric power grid as a charging source.

Moving forward, Eddy County Manager Roberta Gonzales said commissioners would vote on an inducement resolution.

She said the resolution committed the county to going ahead with the proposed project.

“If it is approved then an ordinance would be voted on granting the IRBs,” she said.

Gonzales said commissioners could vote on the resolution in the next two months. In its proposal, Peregrine suggested further engagement with Eddy County in the IRB process.

Mike Smith may be reached at 575-308-8734 or by email at msmith@currentargus.com.

Saturday, July 20 9:00am – 11:00am: Open Class entries will be accepted 9:00am – 11:00am: 4-H Indoor Entries will be accepted 9:00am – 11:00am: Lead Class entries will be accepted 1:00pm – 4:00pm: 4-H exhibits will be judged (Judging is closed to the public.)

1:00pm – 4:00pm: Open Class exhibits will be judged (Judging is closed to the public.)

11:00am:

Queen Contest – Food Court Building

Monday, July 22

All livestock will be brought to the Fairgrounds through the covered arena from 7:00am-11:00am:

Livestock inspectors will be on the Fairgrounds so have your papers in order.

7:00am-11:00am: CHECK IN ALL LIVESTOCK AND PROSPECT YEARLING. Weigh and classify pigs as they unload.

11:30am: GENERAL RULES MEETING (Show Ring), Lunch to follow – Lunch provided by Eddy County Farm and Livestock Bureau.

2:00pm: LAMBS – Weigh and Classify (in the show ring).

4:00pm: RABBITS (Fryers and Bakers) – Weigh in and tattoos read immediately after the lambs BROILERS – Weigh in and band immediately following rabbits. BREEDING POULTRY– Leg bands and enter immediately following broilers. DAIRY HEIFERS – Weigh, measure, present, check birth dates, TB test, preg-check, immediately following breeding poultry. MEAT GOATS – Weigh in immediately following the dairy heifers. MARKET CATTLE – Weigh immediately following goats.

7:00pm: COWBOY CHURCH – Show Ring MOVIE – Show Ring immediately following Cowboy Church Tuesday, July 23 10:00am: PARADE 12:00pm: OFFICIAL OPENING- Exhibit Building & Eddy County Community Center 12:00pm – 9:00pm EXHIBIT BUILDING & EDDY COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 3:00pm: DAIRY HEIFER SHOW- Livestock Barn Show Ring 5:00pm – 12:00am: CARNIVAL 6:00pm: BREEDING AND MARKET GOAT SHOW– Livestock Barn Show Ring NOTE: in the early morning hours of Monday, of the fair week, all gates leading into the fenced in area will be locked. The small walk through gates will remain open during fair hours. The fenced in area is described as that area which encloses the livestock barn, the exhibit building, and the steer barn. Once the gates are locked, they will remain locked until the conclusion of the fair.

Wednesday, July 24 8:00am: RABBIT SHOW – Livestock Barn Show Ring Breeding rabbits will show first – followed immediately by market classes.

9:00am: PROSPECT YEARLING CLASS – Covered Arena 10:00am – 9:00pm E X H I B I T BUILDING & EDDY COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN TO THE

PUBLIC

10:00am – 4:00pm: FLOWER SHOW – ‘Create and Enter a Design’ –Eddy County Community Center

2:00pm: 2-YEAR OLD FUTURITY – Covered Arena 5:00pm: SWINE SHOW- Livestock

Barn Show Ring 5:00pm – 12:00am: CARNIVAL

8:00pm: FAITH AND FAMILY NIGHT-concert

Thursday, July 25 8:00am: POULTRY SHOW BROILER JUDGING – Livestock Barn Show Ring Breeding Poultry will be judged in the poultry barn immediately following Broiler Judging.

8:00am-10:00am: ENTRIES FOR FLOWER SHOW WILL BE ACCEPTED – Eddy County Community Center 9:30am: BREEDING HEIFER SHOW – Livestock Barn Show Ring 10:00am: MARKET CATTLE SHOW – Livestock Barn Show Ring 10:00am-9:00pm: EXHIBIT BUILDING & EDDY COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 10:30am: FLOWER SHOW ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED – Eddy County Community Center 3:00pm: “JAMES HAMILTON” BREEDING SHEEP SHOW – Livestock Barn Show Ring MARKET LAMB SHOW – Immediately following Breeding Sheep 7:00pm: CONCERT – Easton Corbin with special guest William Clark Green

Friday, July 26 8:00am – 10:00am: ALL SALE PULLS AND DESTINATIONS MUST BE FINALIZED!

10:00am – 10:00pm: EXHIBIT BUILDING & EDDY COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN TO THE

PUBLIC

12:00pm – 1:30pm: Entries for the Pecan Contest will be accepted

2:00pm: 4-H AND FFAAWARDS PRESENTATION – Livestock Barn Show Ring 3:00pm: WOOL LEAD SHOW Livestock Barn Show Ring 4:00pm – 12:00am: CARNIVAL

6:00pm: PECAN CONTEST AUCTION – Livestock Barn Show Ring 7:00pm: BULL RIDING – Horse Council Open Arena 9:30pm – 11:30pm: CONCERT – Jon Wolfe

Saturday, July 27 8:00am-12:00pm: FIRE AND ICE 8:00am: BOOSTER SHOWS FOR SWINE, LAMB, GOAT, MARKET CATTLE, AND DAIRY HEIFER.

10:00am – 10:00pm: EXHIBIT BUILDING & EDDY COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 10:00am – 12:00pm : CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT – Covered Arena 10:00am – 12:00pm : “JACK RAUCH” ANVIL TOSS – Covered Arena 10:00am – 12:00am: CARNIVAL 12:00pm CHILI COOK-OFF AND ICE CREAM COMPETITION AWARDS – Covered Arena 4:00pm-5:30pm: BUYER’S DINNER – Food Court 5:30pm: 4-H AND FFA JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION – Livestock Barn Show Ring

Sunday, July 28 9:00am: RELEASE OF LIVESTOCK – Packer truck will come. Once packer truck is gone, livestock going home will be released by superintendent( s).

10:00am: RELEASE of Adult/ Open Class exhibits and Flower Show Entries 10:00am: RELEASE of 4-H indoor exhibits with exception of 1st and 2nd places