Joseph Allen Lovato

Staff Report 

Joseph Allen Lovato, 33, of Los Alamos was found guilty of driving under the influence – third offense, July 17 in First Judicial Court in Santa Fe pursuant to a global and repeat offender plea agreement.

Lovato was arrested by Los Alamos Police Cpl. David Boe July 4 following a traffic stop. He also was charged with speeding (21-25 miles over) and driving on a revoked or suspended license. Those charges were dismissed under the plea agreement.

Lovato was convicted of driving under the influence in 2003 in Dona Ana County and another DWI charge as well as a felony child abuse charge related to a DWI in December 2016 in Los Alamos County. The arrest July 4 constituted a probation violation for the 2016 case.

On the July 4 third offense DWI, Judge T. Glenn Ellington sentenced Lovato to 364 days in jail with 334 suspended for 30 days jail followed by supervised probation until Dec. 4, 2019. He also sentenced Lovato to a $750 mandatory fine, court costs, a breath alcohol ignition interlock device, 96 hours of community service and inpatient treatment as approved by the Parole and Probation Division.

On the probation violation for the 2016 conviction, Judge Ellington allowed Lovato to be reinstated on probation until Dec. 4, 2019. He also ordered Lovato to remain incarcerated until Aug. 3, perform an additional 24 hours of community service, attend DWI school, complete a victim’s impact panel and pay court costs.