Former Childcare Worker Charged with Abuse

Police have arrested a 27-year-old Las Cruces woman suspected of intentionally abusing a young boy who was in her care.

Jennifer Hernandez, 27, formerly a Pre-K teacher at a local childcare and development center, is charged with seven counts of intentional child abuse. All seven charges are third-degree felonies.

In late February 2026, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after parents of a child, who live outside of city limits, contacted DASO. DASO referred the investigation to Las Cruces police because the alleged abuse occurred within city limits.

A Las Cruces police detective obtained video from the Discovery Development Center, at 3300 Del Rey Blvd., and observed several incidents of what is believed to be physical abuse, at the hands of Hernandez, upon a boy under the age of 10. The abuse did not cause great bodily harm.

All of the known incidents appear to have occurred during the early morning of Dec. 9, 2025. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

LCPD detectives would like to make it clear that the ownership and management of the Discovery Development Center have been extremely cooperative with the investigation.

Hernandez was arrested Wednesday, March 4, and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where she will initially be held without bond.