Alamogordo man gets 391 years, longest sentence in district

An Alamogordo man was sentenced to 391 years in prison on April 7 for multiple sex crimes with a minor, according to the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The sentence is the longest prison sentence ever handed down in the 12th Judicial District of New Mexico.

In February, an Otero County jury found Ryan Reese guilty of 18 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 13, seven counts of criminal sexual contact, and six counts of incest, according to the Alamogordo DA’s Office.

The investigation began in August 2022 when the minor disclosed to classmates that she was being sexually abused, the Alamogordo DA’s Office said.

An ensuing investigation revealed that the minor had been subjected to years of continual sexual abuse beginning at the age of 5 1/2 and continuing until she was 11, the Alamogordo DA’s Office said.

An Otero County grand jury indicted Reese on multiple counts of sexual abuse in 2023.

The sentencing was held before District Court Judge Stephen P. Ochoa, who was appointed to the bench in 2023 and elected to office in 2024, the Alamogordo DA’s Office said.

Ryan Suggs, a former Otero County magistrate elected as district attorney in 2024, prosecuted the case six weeks after taking office, the Alamogordo DA’s Office said.

“When we have a case like this, I will not rest until I know I am going to put the strongest case possible before the jury. My team of prosecutors, staff and victim’s advocates share the same sentiment. When I said that my administration will prosecute those who viciously abuse our children, to the fullest extent of the law, I meant it. I respect Judge Ochoa’s sentence. It’s the most our law allowed him to impose or otherwise I would have asked for something more,” Suggs said.

Reese must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed before being eligible for parole, the Alamogordo DA’s Office said.

The case was investigated by the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Suggs and Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Tighe.