By Roger M. Rael
The Raton Range
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — A lead investigator with the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office is reportedly on administrative leave amid allegations that he provided advance warning that authorities were preparing to execute a search warrant involving a family member, according to sources and records reviewed by The Raton Range.
Anthony Madrid, a lead investigator employed by Fourth Judicial District Attorney Thomas Clayton, has not been available through his office despite repeated attempts by The Raton Range to reach him for comment.
Multiple sources familiar with operations inside the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office have told The Raton Range that Madrid was placed on administrative leave and has not recently been reporting to work.
The District Attorney’s Office has not publicly confirmed Madrid’s employment status despite repeated requests for comment.
Public records independently confirm Clayton is the elected Fourth Judicial District Attorney, serving San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe counties. Court records also identify Madrid as a lead investigator for the District Attorney’s Office.
The allegations center on communications reportedly made on or about July 7th, 2026, when Madrid allegedly provided advance notice that authorities were preparing to execute a search warrant involving a member of the recipient’s family.
A reliable source provided The Raton Range with information concerning phone records and text messages the person says were sent by Madrid.
According to that source and information provided to The Raton Range, the person reported the matter to the New Mexico State Police, where investigators gathered information and evidence concerning the allegations.
The source said State Police subsequently forwarded the matter to the New Mexico Department of Justice for further investigation.
According to information provided to The Raton Range, the matter is now with the state Department of Justice, which is headed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. Torrez is New Mexico’s 32nd attorney general.
The Raton Range is seeking independent confirmation from both State Police and the Department of Justice regarding the referral, the status of any investigation and which division or investigators have been assigned to review the allegations.
No criminal charge or formal finding of wrongdoing related to the current allegations has been identified by The Raton Range.
The allegations remain allegations unless substantiated through an official investigation or court proceeding.
Clayton recently praised Madrid
The current controversy comes after Clayton publicly praised Madrid’s work with the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
In an April 14 Facebook post provided to The Raton Range, Clayton identified Madrid as the office’s lead investigator and congratulated him for being honored as a statewide New Mexico Investigator of the Year at a New Mexico district attorneys conference.
Clayton wrote that Madrid and other employees recognized at the event represented examples of the employees he was privileged to work with and praised them for their service to New Mexico communities.
The recognition establishes that Madrid held a prominent position within Clayton’s office before the current allegations surfaced.
Madrid faced previous allegations in 2021
Madrid also has a documented history involving an earlier law-enforcement disciplinary proceeding.
In May 2021, while associated with law enforcement in Santa Fe, Madrid was arrested following an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend at a Santa Fe hotel.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported at the time that Madrid, then a former Santa Fe police officer, was facing charges of false imprisonment, battery against a household member and interference with communications.
Official records from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Board independently confirm the May 16, 2021 arrest.
According to minutes from the board’s June 24, 2021 meeting, Santa Fe officers responded to a hotel following reports of disorderly conduct and arguing. The board record states Madrid was arrested on false imprisonment, a fourth-degree felony, as well as misdemeanor allegations of battery against a household member and interference with communications.
The arrest prompted proceedings before the Law Enforcement Academy Board concerning whether Madrid’s law-enforcement certification should be immediately suspended.
Madrid, through his attorney, entered a not guilty plea and contested the allegations. The board record shows the criminal case was then pending in Santa Fe Magistrate Court.
The Raton Range found an important later development in those records.
At a Dec. 2, 2021, Law Enforcement Academy Board meeting, a motion was made to dismiss the board matter involving Madrid. Board members voted in favor of dismissal.
The dismissal of the Law Enforcement Academy proceeding should not be characterized as a conviction or finding of wrongdoing against Madrid. The Raton Range is continuing to research the final disposition of the underlying 2021 criminal case before drawing any conclusion about how those charges ultimately ended.
Calls for answers go unanswered
Repeated telephone calls seeking comment from the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office concerning the current allegations and Madrid’s employment status have not been returned.
Attempts to reach Madrid through his office have also been unsuccessful. Calls have been directed to voicemail, and on at least one occasion the voicemail box was full and unable to accept additional messages.
Clayton has also been given an opportunity to respond to questions concerning Madrid’s employment status, the alleged communications, the reported State Police investigation and subsequent referral to the New Mexico Department of Justice.
As of publication, The Raton Range had not received a response.
Sources inside the District Attorney’s Office, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal personnel matters, have described tension within the office surrounding the situation.
The Raton Range has also received information concerning additional allegations involving Madrid. Because those allegations have not yet been independently substantiated to the same degree as the records associated with the search-warrant allegation, additional details are being withheld while reporting continues.
The Raton Range will continue seeking records and official responses from the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, New Mexico State Police and New Mexico Department of Justice.
Madrid and Clayton will be provided an opportunity to respond to the allegations and information contained in this report. Any substantive response received will be included in continuing coverage.
This is a developing investigation. The Raton Range will publish additional information as records are verified and state agencies respond.
