MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 28, 2026
From: Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Clovis, New Mexico
CLOVIS, N.M. – District Attorney Quentin Ray announced today that a Curry County jury found Michael Bara, 71, of Muleshoe, Texas, guilty of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Child Under 13, a third-degree felony.
The conviction comes from a March 2023 investigation by the Clovis Police Department after school officials received a report that a 12-year-old had disclosed inappropriate sexual contact by Bara. The victim was later interviewed at the local child advocacy center, where additional details about the abuse were provided during a forensic interview.
At trial, the young victim testified about what happened, providing jurors with a firsthand account of the abuse. The jury also heard testimony from law enforcement officers and the child’s mother before finding Bara guilty. The verdict reflects the evidence presented at trial and the courage it took for this victim to come forward and testify.
Bara remains in custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced before District Court Judge David Reeb in October and faces up to six years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Brittany Hudson. Bara was represented by Raymond Conley of the Law Office of the Public Defender.
For more information, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at (575) 769-2246.
