LAS CRUCES — Las Cruces Police have arrested a man suspected of having illegal contact with an 11-year-old girl.

Jesus Fernando Gonzales, 52, of the 300 block of Richard Drive, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor. The charges are third-degree felonies.

Detectives learned that on March 10, 2012, Gonzales touched the 11-year-old girl in an inappropriate and illegal manner while the two sat in a car near his apartment. The girl’s mother was acquainted with Gonzales and was visiting with friends, at the apartment, at the time.

The mother first reported the incident to the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office which passed along the information to LCPD since the alleged crime was committed within city limits.

Gonzales was arrested Thursday, May 10, and is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash-only bond.