By Pat Davis –– Two Estancia residents are facing serious felony charges after allegedly taking justice into their own hands and severely beating a homeless man last month.
On the evening of March 25, 2026, an Estancia man, who is also a supervisor in the county fire department, allegedly attacked a male, who is described in court documents as mentally disabled and homeless, who had been harassing neighbors by throwing items from the roadway into neighbors’ yards. The suspect complained to EPD and they warned the offender to stay away, but the suspect told officers he would “f- him up” if he saw him again. The suspect later went to the victim’s property and struck the man with a piece of 2”x4” lumber while saying, “I will f– kill you” and “You’re going to die” while his wife also threatened a beating.
Estancia Chief Tom Carter allegedly learned of the incident on the 28th and sent officers to investigate. The suspect claimed he went to the victim’s property to confront him, asserting he only struck the victim twice with his fists in self-defense after he allegedly armed himself with a metal bar.
However, the suspect’s account is directly opposed by an independent witness, who told police she saw three individuals beating Weis with sticks or pipes while he lay on the ground pleading for them to stop. The witness captured the end of the attack on a 19-second video which corroborated the attack. According to a criminal complaint filed on April 9, 2026, the man is charged with third-degree felony charges for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and assault with the intent to kill. His wife is charged with aggravated battery after video showed her and a juvenile joining the man in the assault.
The district attorney’s office has requested that both adults be held without bond prior to trial. Although the Estancia Police Department routinely posts photos of persons arrested on their social media, EPD did not post about this investigation or arrests until after news inquiries began and then they only posted a statement directing questions to the DA. County Manager Jordan Barela confirmed that both persons arrested are firefighters and both have been placed on leave pending a review of the incident. “Though these criminal allegations are troubling, the investigative process is still underway,” he told us. The Route 66 Independent that does not identify persons accused of a crime before conviction.