For Immediate Release:
August 26, 2020
Contact: Matt Baca — (505) 270-7148
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Attorney General Hector Balderas today announced the filing of
multiple criminal charges against former Farmington Police Department Officer Zachary
Christensen for multiple counts of battery and one count of felony child abuse. These
criminal charges stem from an incident occurring on August 27, 2019, in which thenOfficer Christensen allegedly battered and abused an 11-year-old girl at Mesa View
Middle School.
“We must uphold the law and ensure that New Mexico’s school children are protected,
particularly those who are most vulnerable” said Attorney General Balderas. “I will hold
any individual accountable when they harm a child.”
Christensen can be seen on his own body-worn video interacting with the young female
student before finally engaging the young girl in a physical altercation in front of school
administrators, who are heard verbally disapproving of the encounter. Christensen is no
longer employed by the Farmington Police Department.
A preliminary hearing on this matter will be scheduled within 60 days of Christensen’s
initial appearance in magistrate court.