Mountainair EMS Director Charged With Child Sexual Penetration, Aggravated Battery
Preliminary hearing set for September 16 as town confirms an employee is on paid leave
MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. — Joshua Lewis, the director of the Town of Mountainair's EMS department, has been charged with three felonies, including two counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child, according to court records reviewed by the Mountainair Dispatch. The charges raise questions about the continuity of emergency medical response in a town that depends on a small, volunteer-heavy EMS staff to reach patients across a wide stretch of the Estancia Valley.
Lewis has entered a plea of not guilty to all three counts. As with anyone named in a criminal complaint, Lewis is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Lewis was appointed Mountainair's EMS director by the Town Council in December 2023.
The charges
According to the case docket in Moriarty Magistrate Court, State of New Mexico v. Joshua Ryan Lewis (Case No. M-56-FR-202600094), Lewis faces the following counts:
- Criminal sexual penetration in the second degree (child 13-18), force or coercion — N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11(E)(1), a second-degree felony.
- Criminal sexual penetration in the fourth degree (child 13-16) — N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11(G)(1), a fourth-degree felony.
- Aggravated battery (great bodily harm) — N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-3-5(C), a third-degree felony.
The Mountainair Dispatch is not naming the alleged victim and is not detailing the specific allegations beyond the statutory descriptions above, consistent with its practice in cases involving a minor.
Case history and what happens next
Court records show the following timeline:
- July 28, 2026 — A criminal complaint and statement of probable cause were filed, and a summons was issued for Lewis's arraignment and first appearance. The case was assigned to Magistrate Judge Craig M. Davis.
- August 19, 2026 — Lewis's attorney, Adam D. Oakey, Esq., filed an entry of appearance along with a request for discovery and a speedy trial demand.
- August 21, 2026 — The state, represented by the Seventh Judicial District Attorney's Office and Assistant District Attorney Stacey A. Ward, Esq., filed its entry of appearance. The court also entered an order setting conditions of release and approved a waiver of Lewis's personal appearance at that stage.
- September 16, 2026 — A preliminary examination is scheduled before Judge Davis in the Moriarty Magistrate Courtroom.
Town confirms an employee is on leave
In an August 27, 2026, email to the Mountainair Dispatch, Mountainair Mayor Peter Nieto said the town became aware of criminal charges involving a town employee "on or around August 12" and placed that employee on paid administrative leave on August 17, 2026, after consulting with legal counsel. Nieto's email did not name the employee, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters.
"Because this involves an ongoing personnel matter, the Town is limited in what it can publicly discuss and will not be providing additional information regarding the employee's status at this time," Nieto wrote.
The timeline in Nieto's email — the town's awareness in mid-August and the start of paid leave on August 17 — falls after Lewis's case was filed on July 28. The Albuquerque Journal has separately reported that Mountainair's EMS chief was charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 15-year-old.
Nieto's email also addressed service continuity: "EMS remains active and operational. However, due to limited personnel availability, there may be occasions when Torrance County EMS is called upon to assist with or respond to certain calls."
Attempts to reach Lewis and next steps
The Mountainair Dispatch attempted to reach Lewis by phone on September 3, 2026, at a number on file for him. The number was disconnected. The Dispatch has also sought comment from the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office, the 7th Judicial District DA’s office, and the Law Office of Adam Oakey, LLC, and will update this story as new information becomes available.