Former Alamosa Police Officer has Domestic Violence Charges Dismissed by Plea

Leonel Sarmiento had been terminated for cause from Alamosa PD in June

Former Alamosa Police Officer Leonel Sarmiento had his domestic violence-related harassment charge dismissed by plea deal on July 13, as well as his witness or victim tampering charge. He was convicted only of official misconduct receiving two years probation.

The charges stemmed from two different cases, the first from Sept. 16, 2025.

According to his arrest affidavit, Sarmiento and his wife were recently separated, with both of them in his truck as he was dropping her off at her home. It states that Sarmiento exited the truck and saw the wife had a letter in her hand from inside the glove compartment and he jumped into the cab towards her. The wife rushed out of the truck, slip and fell to the ground. Sarmineto climbed through the cab and out the passenger side after her.

He tried to grab the letter and “ended up on top of Mrs. Sarmiento and was restraining her to get the letter, but Mrs. Sarmiento did not let go of the letter.” Sarmiento then walked away and was arrested later that day.

The second case was filed May 11 and charged Sarmiento with domestic violence-related tampering with a witness or victim and first degree official misconduct

According to the arrest affidavit, Sarmiento wrote a letter on an Alamosa Police Department computer, on-duty, addressed as if from the ex-wife, requesting the 12th District Attorney’s Office dismiss the harassment case against him. The affidavit states Sarmiento attempted to influence the ex-wife to submit the letter as if she authored it, with her stating that he “used various forms of coercion, including peripheral bribes, emotional manipulation involving their children, and statements indicating suicidal ideation.”

Part of the letter stated:

“I do not believe that Leonel Sarmiento is an aggressive person and I would also like the protection order to be removed. Our children need him...,” and “I would like to reiterate that I will not testify against Leonel.”

The ex-wife told investigating officers she initially delayed reporting the letter because she “feared she could face consequences for initially agreeing to Sarmiento’s tactics.” It wasn’t until later that she “recognized his actions as manipulative and likely a violation of law.”

The affidavit continues that Alamosa PD Chief George Dingfelder told investigating officers that he considered Sarmiento’s actions to be an “unauthorized use of his official function” and violated multiples internal policies as well as statute.

Sarmiento was terminated for cause on June 16.