Legal consequences have expanded following a tense summer altercation on church grounds that was ignited by community controversy surrounding a proposed Islamic house of worship. A groundskeeper at an Albuquerque parish is now facing criminal battery charges several weeks after an incident in which he deployed pepper spray against a couple during a confrontation outside the religious facility.
Sixty-two-year-old Timothy Fresquez appeared in court for his initial hearing last week in connection with the July 22 confrontation at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Catholic Church, situated near the intersection of Fourth Street and Candelaria NW. Records indicate that Fresquez has been formally charged with a single count of battery, which is classified under state law as a petty misdemeanor, and he is scheduled to appear for a bench trial next month.
When approached for comment on Wednesday as he arrived to attend a religious service at the parish, Fresquez declined to be interviewed regarding the pending legal proceedings. The charge filed against him represents the latest development in a legal case that began as a contentious neighborhood dispute before rapidly escalating into physical violence and police intervention.
Prior to the recent filing against Fresquez, law enforcement officials had initially brought charges against only one individual involved in the altercation: 72-year-old David Romero. Romero is currently facing two counts of aggravated assault stemming from allegations that he produced a firearm during the scuffle, and court records show he has since been placed on pretrial release as his case proceeds through the justice system.
Investigators noted that the discord originally stemmed from digital discussions across social media platforms, where community members had expressed strong opinions regarding the construction of a new mosque in the area. Romero’s girlfriend and several other individuals had posted comments criticizing the church's pastor, the Rev. Vincent Chávez, for his public stance and vocal support of the proposed North Valley mosque project.
The ideological disagreement quickly moved from the internet to the physical premises of the parish after Rev. Chávez took public action in response to the online criticism. The pastor erected a sign outside the church building that explicitly denounced racism and publicly displayed the name of Romero’s girlfriend, bringing the contentious neighborhood debate directly to the exterior of the church grounds.
Upon discovering her name posted on the sign outside the church, the woman engaged in an in-person confrontation with both Fresquez and Rev. Chávez. As the verbal exchange grew increasingly hostile outside the building, the woman placed two separate telephone calls—first dialing emergency dispatchers via 911 and then reaching out directly to Romero to inform him of the developing situation.
Details included in a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court reveal that a friend of Romero's girlfriend was on the telephone with her during the initial stages of the confrontation. The friend later informed law enforcement that she could clearly overhear the conversation between the parties, noting that Fresquez initially spoke in a calm manner before his tone shifted to visible anger, leading the friend to urge the woman to call 911 because the groundskeeper's behavior was alarming.
Following the urgent telephone call from his girlfriend, Romero traveled directly to the church property and quickly inserted himself into the ongoing dispute. Statements provided to law enforcement indicate that Romero’s arrival escalated the encounter into an immediate physical confrontation with the groundskeeper near a vehicle parked on the premises.
According to accounts Fresquez provided to investigating officers, Romero approached him aggressively and attempted to land a punch. Fresquez told police that Romero also attempted to pull off the side mirror of his pickup truck, prompting the groundskeeper to draw a canister of pepper spray and discharge the chemical irritant directly at Romero in an effort to fend off the attack.
Fresquez further stated to investigators that during the encounter with Romero, the girlfriend was positioned directly behind the older man, where she was allegedly recording the scene with a device and laughing. Fresquez informed officers that when the woman subsequently stepped onto church property, he used pepper spray on her as well because he believed she was actively participating in the physical confrontation.
Law enforcement records state that following the deployment of the pepper spray, the altercation escalated further when Romero drew a firearm. Police reports indicate that Romero allegedly brandished the weapon toward both Fresquez and Rev. Chávez before fleeing the scene, leaving both church representatives fearing that they were about to be shot.
In his own statements to investigating police officers, Romero offered a contrasting narrative regarding the use of the firearm during the encounter. While Romero acknowledged that he pulled out his handgun after being incapacitated by the pepper spray, he maintained that he merely held the weapon downward at his side and insisted that he never aimed or pointed the barrel at anyone present during the incident.
The physical effects of the chemical spray proved debilitating for Romero's girlfriend, according to statements recorded in the charging documents. The woman’s friend informed investigators that she had to drive the victim home because the severity of the pepper spray exposure rendered her entirely unable to operate a motor vehicle, with the woman later seeking formal medical attention at a local urgent care clinic.
With both Fresquez and Romero now facing formal criminal proceedings in Metropolitan Court, the case highlights how neighborhood tensions over religious projects and online speech escalated into dangerous physical violence. As Fresquez prepares for his scheduled bench trial next month and Romero remains on pretrial supervision, the legal system will address the competing claims of assault and self-defense that unfolded on the parish grounds.
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