SANDOVAL COUNTY, N.M. -- Both an inmate and a jail guard are in big trouble after a loaded gun was found inside the Sandoval County Detention Center.
This is the first time that an inmate has successfully brought a gun into the Sandoval County Detention Center, Target 7 has learned.
Authorities said Paul Martinez, 30, of Albuquerque was jailed for violating his probation in May. According to the jail Deputy Director Greg Quintana said one of the jail guards didn’t pat Martinez down properly and missed a loaded .32-calliber automatic handgun hidden in Martinez’s waistband.
A criminal complaint said Martinez was acting fishy during booking, keeping his hand on his pants, and went to the bathroom three times in less than four minutes.
A video confirms that he eventually dropped something in a laundry cart. Soon after, a female guard and a female inmate on laundry duty found the weapon hidden beneath some dirty clothes.
The jail guard will face discipline for missing the security breach, Target 7 has learned. The jail is currently retraining all of its officers on how to properly do pat down for the safety and protection of officers and inmates alike.
Martinez faces four additional felony charges stemming from the incident.
The jail’s deputy director said Martinez bonded out on Wednesday.