Veteran almost gifted Rio Rancho home charged with child sex abuse

ALBUQUERQUE — A combat veteran who was set to be gifted a new home in Rio Rancho this month was recently indicted by a grand jury on over a dozen felony charges stemming from alleged sexual abuse of his adopted daughter.

David Michael Llonel Halona, 40, of Albuquerque, is facing over a dozen felony charges, including criminal sexual penetration and sexual contact, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and bribery, over accusations he sexually assaulted the girl starting when she was 8 years old, from November 2017 to January 2024, according to a Bernalillo County grand jury indictment form and a criminal complaint.

Halona’s arraignment is scheduled for July 21, in Second Judicial District Court.

Halona’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The charges against Halona, a former Army sergeant in Iraq and Afghanistan, come as he was expected to receive a home in Rainbow Canyon July 18, thanks to the help of a New York-based nonprofit, Building Homes for Heroes.

In an email to the Observer, a spokesperson for the organization wrote that Halona “met and exceeded” the eligibility criteria for the home gifting program at the time he was selected. But once Building Homes for Heroes officials became aware of the criminal charges against Halona, they informed him he would not receive a home.

“When allegations of this nature arise, we have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the organization, our mission, and the communities we serve,” the spokesperson wrote.

The spokesperson added that the nonprofit will not comment on criminal proceedings.

In March 2024, Halonas’ wife was granted a protective order against him, effective until September, according to court records. The order was amended in May, after the new felony case was initiated, so that Halona could not have contact with the child, records stated.

Halona was lodged May 27 into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center and released following a June 2 hearing in Second Judicial District Court in which he was ordered to wear a tracking device, not leave the state or have contact with minors, a court filing said. Halona would have been able to move into his new home on Rainbow Canyon if he notified the court, the filing said.

Halona’s case originated in April, when a criminal complaint and arrest warrant were filed in Bernalillo Metropolitan Court. The complaint said an Albuquerque Police Department officer was called Feb. 7 to the 10000 block of Woodquail Drive Northwest, where the victim reported sexual abuse from Halona.

The victim said that Halona kissed and touched her in a sexual manner multiple times when they were home together, from the time she was 8 years old until she turned 14, the complaint said. Halona allegedly bought her “expensive gifts” expecting sexual favors and threatened to hurt her or return her to child custody agents if she told anyone about the abuse, the complaint said.

On May 28, the case was transferred to Second Judicial District Court due to the severity of the charges, according to a court filing.

Despite prosecutors filing a motion to keep Halona in detention pending trial — arguing “there are no conditions of release that will keep the community safe” — Judge Brett Loveless disagreed and set release conditions.

According to information previously provided by Building Homes for Heroes, Halona was honorably and medically retired from the Army in January 2016