BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Following a jury trial held April 7-9 in Los Alamos. Chuck Barreras, 64, of Los Alamos was found not guilty of battery against a health care worker and acquitted of all charges in the case. The criminal complaint filed April14, 2025 in First Judicial District Court by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Counce, accused Barreras of unlawfully touching or applying force to a health care worker in the lawful discharge of her duties in a rude, insolent or angry manner, a fourth degree felony.

The case was heard by District Judge Anastasia Martin. The state was represented by Counce and Sonya Carrasco-Trujillo, and Barreras was represented by Shaheen Rassoul and Drew Hoffman of the Office of the Public Defender.

Court documents indicate that police were called to Los Alamos Medical Center in response to a disturbance. Medical staff alleged that Barreras yelling at staff while they attempted to treat him in the Emergency Room, and that he had pulled his IV out of his arm and headed out towards the ambulance exit. Staff claimed that Barreras had “body slammed” a member of the nursing staff.