A Cibola County man will remain in custody after being charged with sex crimes against children, including making and sharing child pornography.A hearing for 54-year-old Floyd Ethridge concluded a few hours ago at Cibola County Magistrate Court. Ethridge is accused of making child pornography involving children as young as infants and sharing it.Magistrate Judge Tony Mace transferred Ethridge’s case to district court, meaning he will stay behind bars for the time being.”You’re being held without bond until that, until your case is presented in the grand jury,” Mace said.The charges are so graphic that his defense attorney unsuccessfully asked Mace not to read them aloud.”I want to make sure that you understand exactly what’s going on,” Mace said.Ethridge was arrested last week on five felony child sex charges: criminal sexual penetration and contact of a minor under the age of 13, and possession, distribution, and manufacturing of child sex abuse material. The criminal complaint claims Ethridge recorded himself performing a sexual act on an infant. While the relationship of the infant to Ethridge is unknown, prosecutors say it is someone he “has access to.”Ethridge is also accused of possessing other videos on his two phones that depict children, also as young as infants, being raped and tortured. As the case has now been moved from magistrate to district court, prosecutors have filed a motion for pre-trial detention. Judge Mace ruled Ethridge will remain behind bars until that hearing.A date for the hearing has not yet been set. Ethridge’s parents declined to comment after the court hearing.
A Cibola County man will remain in custody after being charged with sex crimes against children, including making and sharing child pornography.
A hearing for 54-year-old Floyd Ethridge concluded a few hours ago at Cibola County Magistrate Court. Ethridge is accused of making child pornography involving children as young as infants and sharing it.
Magistrate Judge Tony Mace transferred Ethridge’s case to district court, meaning he will stay behind bars for the time being.
“You’re being held without bond until that, until your case is presented in the grand jury,” Mace said.
The charges are so graphic that his defense attorney unsuccessfully asked Mace not to read them aloud.
“I want to make sure that you understand exactly what’s going on,” Mace said.
Ethridge was arrested last week on five felony child sex charges: criminal sexual penetration and contact of a minor under the age of 13, and possession, distribution, and manufacturing of child sex abuse material. The criminal complaint claims Ethridge recorded himself performing a sexual act on an infant. While the relationship of the infant to Ethridge is unknown, prosecutors say it is someone he “has access to.”
Ethridge is also accused of possessing other videos on his two phones that depict children, also as young as infants, being raped and tortured. As the case has now been moved from magistrate to district court, prosecutors have filed a motion for pre-trial detention. Judge Mace ruled Ethridge will remain behind bars until that hearing.
A date for the hearing has not yet been set. Ethridge’s parents declined to comment after the court hearing.
