A New Mexico man will spend more than two decades behind bars following a no-contest plea for his role in the death of a four-month-old baby boy. Victor Gonzales pleaded no contest to reckless abuse of a child resulting in death, a charge stemming from a June 2025 incident involving severe narcotic neglect.
According to investigators, Gonzales admitted to using fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the past. On the night of the incident, both Gonzales and the infant’s mother used illegal narcotics inside their home before going to sleep in the same bed as the four-month-old infant.
The investigation revealed that the baby boy stopped breathing after being exposed to methamphetamine. Gonzales also told investigators that he rolled over on top of the infant while he was asleep. Emergency efforts to save the child were unsuccessful, and the baby was pronounced dead.
Further investigation exposed a history of systemic drug exposure throughout the infant’s short life. The child was born in January 2025 with both fentanyl and methamphetamine already in his system.
Despite this prenatal drug exposure, the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) permitted the infant to be placed back into the home under a “safety plan” following his discharge from the hospital. Authorities later determined that both the mother and Gonzales remained active drug users throughout the entirety of the child’s life.
Because Gonzales is a convicted felon, an additional four years were tacked onto his final penalty, resulting in a total sentence of 22 years in state prison.
“This holds Gonzales accountable for the tragic and preventable death of a vulnerable child,” said Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. “Our office remains committed to prosecuting those whose reckless actions put children in harm’s way and ensuring justice for victims who cannot speak for themselves.”
While Gonzales’s legal proceedings have concluded with his sentencing, the criminal case against the infant’s mother is still pending trial.
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