Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ROSWELL — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce announced Friday that a jury found Edward Bingham guilty of four counts of child sexual exploitation.

The case was prosecuted by the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Bingham is facing up to 43 years in prison for his actions. Sentencing will occur Aug. 5, 2022. 

“This is a warning to child predators that New Mexico will not stand for crimes against children and vulnerable victims, and my office will continue to offer resources and assist in bringing serious offenders to justice,” Balderas said.

“Child predators have no place in New Mexico. My office is committed to holding those that hurt children accountable and is grateful to the Attorney General’s Office and the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office for partnering with us to ensure justice is served,” Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce said.

Bingham, 45, started communicating and initiating sexual relations with the victim when she was just 14 years old. Deputies with the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office arrested Bingham after finding him with the victim in his car, in a vacant lot near the Roswell Airport. After searching Bingham’s phone, detectives found multiple images and a video of child sexual abuse materials that Bingham had requested, received, and saved from the child over the preceding week.

The case was investigated by the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Taylor Jaggers, Assistant Attorney General Jesse Pecoraro and Deputy Director of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division Mark Probasco.