LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A 26-year-old nurse in Las Cruces has been arrested after she was accused of sexually assaulting an underage psychiatric patient.
Kayla Salcido was arrested on Thursday and charged with four counts of “criminal sexual contact of a minor (unclothed)” and three counts of “contributing to delinquency of a minor” after the nursing director of the Mesilla Valley Behavioral Hospital reported to the Las Cruces Police Department allegations that she had sexually assaulted an underage patient under her care in December 2025.
According to police documents, the case started after the victim told hospital staff that Salcido had sexually assaulted him at her home.
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In the documents, investigators then described speaking with the victim, who explained that he met Salcido when she was caring for him at the hospital, adding that she would show him nude photographs of herself on her phone and would kiss him while in the room.
The victim then explained that on Dec. 5, 2025, he was discharged from the hospital, but felt depressed and drank alcohol and called Salcido, recalling that she picked him up and brought him to her home.
While at her home, the victim said Salcido had fed him alcohol before sexually assaulting him at least twice, stopping only after Salcido told him that guests were coming to her home.
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The victim then told investigators that Salcido dropped him off near the Mesilla Valley hospital.
The victim stated he was readmitted and then the next day heard that Salcido had resigned.
Feeling depressed and like he had been used, the victim told investigators he confided in another staff member, telling them what happened.
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