Victims want repeat felon off streets

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - A repeat felon who's well-known to police is sitting in jail again after his latest run in with the law. He's spent time in and out of jail but now could end up locked up for a long time.

Xavier Barela, 35, has a rap sheet that dates back more than 10 years. He was out on bond from five felony cases in the past year when he was arrested again Saturday.

Barela is known to police in Roswell for being a repeat offender for mainly theft-related crimes.

"Receiving stolen property, vehicle burglaries, residential burglaries," said Sgt. Jimmy Preston of the Roswell Police Department.  "He is believed to commit an armed robbery that he is actually out on bond for."

Barela has also stolen from businesses. In January, police found him with a stolen 42-inch flat screen from Glenn's Furniture store.

It's a crime the store owner can laugh about now.

"To break a window out and risk being caught on video surveillance and by stealing a TV set that is a fake," Bill Glenn said.

The fake television may have fooled Barela, but joking aside, Glenn said the window cost him about $500 to replace.

"And I don't have insurance for that," he said.

Over the weekend, Barela was pulled over because his music was too loud. Officers said he was uncooperative and was also armed with a gun.

"For us to find another weapon on him, we are concerned he is in that cycle of becoming a more violent criminal," Preston said.

The gun Barela was carrying was stolen during a burglary. Police found other items in his car that they believe were also stolen.

Investigators are working to link those items to other burglaries.

"It is a huge concern not only to us but to the rest of the community to try to stop this type of individual," said Preston.

It's a sentiment Barela's victims share.

"It sounds like he's gotten away with so much, he just keeps getting worse, and worse, and worse until finally he's going to hurt somebody," Glenn said. "And that's why we need to get him off the streets."

Barela's charges from Saturday's incident are being a felon in possession of a firearm, loud music and operating a vehicle on a suspended license.

Preston said police will push for federal charges against Barela since those often result in stricter penalties.

The judge set Barela's current bond at $50,000 cash-only. Police hope that high cash bond will keep him off the streets for a while.