Police: Dad assaults mom, then hides gun under mattress of 7-year-old daughter (Carlsbad, New Mexico)

Whatta classy dude. Dad THOMAS NEGRETE is accused of battery (apparently against the mother), and then for an encore, he hides his gun under the mattress of their 7-year-old daughter before going out the window. You see, Daddy didn't want to deal with the police or anything, since he's convicted felon on supervised parole and all that.

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_17570141

CARLSBAD — A local man is facing firearm and child abuse charges after allegedly hiding a gun under the mattress of his 7-year-old daughter's bed.

According to documents filed in the case, Thomas Negrete, 26, of the 900 block of Guadalupe Street, pleaded not guilty in Carlsbad Magistrate Court, to battery against a household member, felon in possession of a firearm and child abuse.

According to a criminal complaint, at 7:52 a.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to Negrete's residence in reference to a domestic disturbance. Officers knocked on the door and rang the doorbell and were answered by the alleged victim, Janel Negrete.

When asked, Janel Negrete reported that Thomas Negrete was still in the house, in a southwestern bedroom, where he reportedly had a .22 under their bed. Janel reported that he had been drinking, said police.

Janel reported that Thomas was angry because she called police the previous evening, and Thomas was asked to leave the residence, said the report.

"Janel said that he came in the house this morning and poked his finger against her face in an angry manner and started to scold her for involving the police last night," said Ofc. Jeremy Bolduc.

Officers were not able to locate Thomas Negrete when the searched the residence, finding the firearm to be missing from between the mattresses of the Negretes' bed.

According to the complaint, officers heard a child, Negrete's 7-year-old daughter, and went into her bedroom, finding the screen of the window in that room on the child's bed.

The 7-year-old told police that her father had gone out the window before a reserve officer located Thomas hiding behind a shed in the backyard of the residence, said police.

He allegedly told police they did not belong in his residence and were consequently violating his rights.

Thomas Negrete was placed in hand restraints and placed in the back of Ofc. Rory Castaneda's patrol unit, where he was read his Miranda Rights, said police.

According to the report, Thomas, who was observed to have blood on his hand, told police he had never had firearms in the house. Officers then began to search the residence.

"While I searched the alley, dumpsters and surrounding area for the firearm, (Ofc. Kevin Matthews) called out that he had a loaded magazine for a Ruger 10-22 rifle that was brought from (the 7-year-old daughter's) bedroom by her (9-year-old) sister and Ofc. James Wilkinson located a blood stain on the sheet of the (7-year-old daughter's) bed," reported Bolduc.

According to the report, Wilkinson lifted the mattress close to the bloodstain, finding a soft gun case, which was identified by Janel to be the one Thomas kept his gun in.

After being photographed in its original position, the case was opened to reveal a Ruger 10-22 semi automatic rifle, which came back with no record, said Bolduc.

Thomas was taken to the CPD and Janel signed the prosecution portion of the report and gave a written statement.

It was also found that Thomas was a convicted felon on supervised parole."

A pretrial conference has been set in Magistrate Court for 10:30 a.m. on March 22. The bond was set at $15,000.