Woman denies paying for child molester's beating

1-5-2010 New Mexico:

CARLSBAD — A former Eddy County Detention Center employee faces a charge of criminal solicitation after allegedly attempting to pay an inmate to beat up another inmate: the man who was convicted of sexually molesting a 12-year-old relative of the employee.

Lisa Lloyd, 38, allegedly asked an acquaintance to deposit $100 in the account of Johnny Ray Brazeal, who allegedly battered Gary Tesch in jail after he was found guilty of criminal sex charges, an arrest warrant filed by the New Mexico State Police stated.

Detention center administration reportedly acquired a letter, apparently written by Brazeal after the alleged battery, requesting Lloyd to deposit the money in his account or he would tell his lawyer.

An internal investigation was conducted at the detention center and Lloyd was fired. ECDC acting Warden Shawn Funk reportedly declined to tell state investigators the details, saying they are personnel matters and therefore confidential, the warrant stated.

Tesch was found guilty in August of criminal sexual contact and criminal sexual penetration of a minor and sentenced to 18 years in prison. The charge stemmed from an incident in December of 2008 in which a 12-year-old girl said Tesch molested her in his recreational vehicle.

Brazeal pleaded not guilty to a count of aggravated battery for the alleged beating of Tesch in August.

Lloyd pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal solicitation. She was placed on a secured bond of $5,000 and awaits a preliminary hearing at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 26 at Magistrate Court before Judge Henry Castaneda. ..Source.. Reid Wright, Current-Argus Staff Writer