Feds bust parole officer in sex assault

ALBUQUERUQE (KRQE) - A state Probation and Parole officer made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman he was supervising.

Investigators arrested Gordon Chavez, 35, Tuesday after they say he touched himself while staring at the victim's breasts and later groped her during office visits.

In addition to the alleged civil-rights violation related to sexual assault, Chavez is also charged with providing false statements to the FBI.

Chavez has been a probation officer for almost 11 years and he works out of an office in downtown Albuquerque, according to the Department of Corrections.

Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel said he didn't know about the allegations until the federal arrest but will launch a state investigation into Chavez as well:

"I made personal phone calls this morning to both the United States Attorney Gonzales as well as the head of the FBI in this matter and made sure that they knew that anything that they need from our organization regarding anything that we can give them to make sure that they understood the clarity," Marcantel said. 

Chavez was immediately placed on leave. 

The criminal complaint says the alleged incidents happened at Chavez's office and at the victim's home.

Marcantel said he knows of no prior problems with Chavez.

At his court appearance Wednesday morning Chavez was ordered to remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Thursday.

He has been placed on administrative leave.