The manager of a Ketchum coffee shop has been charged with a felony for allegedly beating his girlfriend. He is also being investigated by federal authorities to determine if he is in the United States legally.
Diogenes Jesus Francia-Rojas, 31, a Peruvian native, was arrested earlier this month on a felony domestic battery charge. He remained incarcerated Thursday in the Blaine County jail on $7,500 bond.
An "immigration detainer" filed by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency precludes Francia-Rojas' release from custody even if bond is posted.
The detainer, dated June 15, states that an "investigation has been initiated to determine whether this person is subject to removal from the United States."
According to Blaine County court records, Francia-Rojas, who has often gone by the name of "Jesus Francia," has lived in the Wood River Valley since at least 2001. He was not deported, nor is there any mention in the court record of residency issues, following a driving-under-the-influence arrest in 2003.
According to court records, Francia-Rojas has been manager for the past seven years of Java on Fourth in Ketchum. He is the third Java employee to recently come under ICE scrutiny.
ICE agents arrested two female Java employees on "immigration fugitive" warrants on May 20 for deportation. The two women are also Peruvian nationals.
Java owner Todd Rippo declined to comment on Wednesday.
Francia-Rojas was arrested by Hailey police the morning of June 14. A probable-cause affidavit filed in the case by Hailey officer Aaron Nay alleges that Francia-Rojas beat his girlfriend at the couple's residence on Willow Street in west Hailey. The age of the victim was not listed in the report.
Nay alleged in the affidavit that the couple had been arguing and that "Jesus started hitting her and hitting her head into the floor." Nay further wrote that he interviewed Francia-Rojas and was told that the suspect was fending the woman off when she was pushing him.
A criminal complaint filed against Francia-Rojas charges him with "domestic battery resulting in traumatic injury". The complaint accuses Francia-Rojas of giving the woman a bloody nose, a swollen and cut lip, facial bruises and "multiple bruising on her arms, head and back."
Francia-Rojas, who is represented by Hailey attorney Douglas Werth, was formally charged with felony domestic battery on June 15 in Blaine County Magistrate Court. Following a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Francia-Rojas was ordered bound over to 5th District Court. The hearing was held before Magistrate Court Judge Jason Walker, who determined that probable cause existed for further prosecution of the case.
No district court arraignment date had been set as of Thursday. However, a motion hearing in the case has been set for June 30 before Judge Walker. The defense motion seeks to modify the terms of a no-contact order between Francia-Rojas and the alleged victim that was issued earlier by the court.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Diogenes Jesus Francia-Rojas
