Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas issued the following statement Friday after the jury returned a not guilty verdict in the death of Vincente Villela, acquitting both Metro Detention Center (MDC) guards.

“Tragedies in our justice system are very difficult on all the impacted families, and while we are grateful to the jury and the Court for their service, it is important to give voice to victims like Vincente Villela,” Attorney General Balderas said.

(Prosecutors in the case said correction officers Keith Brandon and Jonathan Sandoval played a role in Villela’s death in 2019 by using unreasonable force. Both men had been charged with involuntary manslaughter.)