Two child counselors arrested at Desert Hills of NM

Two different employees at an Albuquerque group home for delinquent children have been arrested in the past week.

Brianna Elliott was arrested in connection with a ring that accused of supplying crack and marijuana to prisoners locked up in a southern New Mexico correctional facility, and a program director at Desert Hills was arrested on Wednesday on DWI-related charges.

Court records show Roxanne Garcia was arrested on charges of drunk driving, driving with a revoked license, driving with an open container and trafficking a controlled substance.

Melinda Heller-Nellos, Clinical Director of Desert Hills of New Mexico said, “We do not hire applicants with a felony arrest. And all prospective employees must pass local, state and federal background checks Unfortunately, Roxanne and Brianna have made bad decisions in their personal lives and will no longer be employed by Desert Hills.”

Police confirm they are investigating a third employee who is accused of raping a 16-year-old client of Desert Hills.

The boy told the facility that the rape happened off-site while he was in his family’s care.

That employee has not been arrested. Desert Hills said the woman was fired several weeks before the alleged incident.

The group home says it wants to assure the community it will continue to provide quality services for children and their families.

The facility says it now doing background checks on all of its current employees.