Baby sitter charged with molestation
Man had previous sex crime convictions in Ala., S. Carolina
A southwest Albuquerque man and registered sex offender is accused of sexually assaulting three girls he baby-sat numerous times, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.
James Highfield, 62, was booked into jail Saturday, charged with three counts each of kidnapping, criminal sexual contact of a minor and criminal sexual penetration of a minor.
The mother of the girls — two 8-year-olds and a 4-year-old — told Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office detectives her youngest daughter said Highfield made the girl sleep with him. The mother told deputies that Highfield has baby-sat the three girls at her home and his since August.
Deputies say the initial allegations led to the discovery that Highfield had sexually molested all three girls on numerous occasions and also took nude pictures of them.
Through the investigation, detectives learned that Highfield is a registered sex offender.
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry shows Highfield has prior convictions in Alabama and South Carolina dating to 1997.
Deputies say Highfield had already violated the conditions of his sex offender status by not giving his current address or place of work in Albuquerque.
During questioning, Highfield was “cooperative” and told deputies the girls were telling the truth.
Deputies say he admitted molesting all three and having pornographic pictures of them on his phone.
“James became emotional as he confessed his actions,” a deputy wrote in the complaint.
Highfield told deputies he didn’t mean to hurt the girls and asked if he could write an apology letter to them, which deputies afforded him the “opportunity to do so.”