For Immediate Release:
December 15, 2022
Contact: Jerri Mares – (505) 321-4372
ALBUQUERQUE — Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Second Judicial District Court Judge Cindy Leos sentenced James Henz to 85.5 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections.
In September 2022, Henz accepted a plea agreement in which he was convicted of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact of a minor, and bribery or intimidation of a witness. At today’s sentencing, six children abused by Henz addressed the court, along with several of their parents, about the impact Henz’s actions had on them. In announcing the sentence, Judge Leos noted that the pain in the room was palpable. Under the court’s sentence, Henz will be in custody of the New Mexico Department of Corrections for the next 68 years. Once released, Henz will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“I commend these brave and courageous survivors for partnering with our office in pursuit of justice in this case, and we must continue to have honest conversations in our communities to advance prevention and recovery for survivors of sex abuse,” said Attorney General Balderas.
For years, James Henz abused children in his extended family at many family gatherings. After he attempted to abuse a new victim in January 2020, his extensive abuse began to come to light. Henz was charged with offenses against five different victims following a multi-day preliminary hearing early last year where the victims testified.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Jonathan Gardner and Alyssa Cervantes.
The case was brought as a part of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track and capture internet child sexual predators on internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are over 90 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement or make an anonymous report through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, (http://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline) or calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
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