Courts

FBI: Jicarilla Woman In Court On Voluntary Manslaughter

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Laurice Montoya, 37, appeared March 28 in federal court for a preliminary and detention hearing facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Montoya will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to a criminal complaint, Jan. 19, at Montoya’s home on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, Montoya allegedly began arguing with a man, identified in court records as John Doe, who had been staying with her since December 2021. Montoya was walking behind John Doe when she allegedly pushed him over a couch. Montoya helped John Doe Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Appears In Court Following Arrest For String Of Bank Robberies … Faces 20 Years In Prison

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Jason Smeltzer, 40, of Albuquerque, appeared March 25 in federal court for a preliminary and detention hearing where he was charged with robbing four local banks.

Smeltzer will be conditionally released to La Pasada Halfway House pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to a criminal complaint, from Jan. 20 to Feb. 23, Smeltzer allegedly robbed four Albuquerque banks, one of which was robbed twice for a total of five robberies. Each time, Smeltzer allegedly entered the bank and presented a similar demand note to a teller. Once the tellers complied, Smeltzer Read More

New Mexico State Bar: Free Workshop Presented By ‘Legal Resources For The Elderly Program’ April 19

by

SBNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A free workshop presented by the ‘Legal Resources for the Elderly Program’ will be held at 11 a.m., April 19, via video and teleconference.

This presentation will cover the following topics:

  • Powers of Attorney;
  • Advance Health Care Directives;
  • Probate;
  • Non-Probate Transfers (including Transfer on Death Deeds); and
  • Institutional Medicaid. 

To register, call 505.797.6005 and provide first and last name and email address, or register directly by clicking the registration link below and entering first and last name and email address:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0EO-13PvSJ2J085jxqBEGg Read More

Heinrich Meets With Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Calls For Her Senate Confirmation

by

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) meting today with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in his office in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) met with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, following Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement at the end of this term.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Judge Jackson last week and is expected to report her nomination to the full Senate for consideration Read More

FBI: Former NMSP Officer Faces Porn Charges

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Ricky L. Romero, 27, of Roswell appeared in Federal Court March 23 where he is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and receiving child pornography.

A federal grand jury indicted Romero March 16.

According to the indictment and other court records, March 4 to March 6, 2019, in Chaves County, Romero allegedly coerced a minor to produce child pornography and received videos and images of child pornography on his iPhone.

Romero was a New Mexico State Police officer at the time the offenses were committed.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered Read More

FBI: Navajo Man Gets 14 Years For Abuse Of Child

by

FBI News:

ALBUQERQUE — Bryan Bull, 40, of Shiprock and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced March 15 in federal court to 14 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country.

Bull pleaded guilty Aug. 30, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, June 3, 2019, Bull and Jeremiah Elijah Jim, 32, of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz., and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used intimidation and force on then 14-year-old John Doe and sexually abused him. The abuse took place in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation.

Upon his release from prison, Bull will be subject Read More

Luján Meets With Supreme Court Justice Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

by

Sen. Ben Ray Luján greets Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in his office Thursday in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee to United States Supreme Court:

“Today, I was deeply honored to sit down with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s historic nominee to the Supreme Court. We discussed her impressive career, including her years of judicial experience, service as a public defender, and bipartisan Read More

Governor Appoints Third Judicial District Judge

by

Judge Jessica Leigh Streeter

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Thursday announced the appointment of Jessica Leigh Streeter of Las Cruces to fill a vacancy on the Third Judicial District Court.

Streeter has worked in private practice in Las Cruces since 2018. She previously worked as an attorney for the state Human Services Department Child Support Enforcement Division and served as a public defender in Albuquerque and Roswell.

Streeter is a graduate of Las Cruces High School and New Mexico State University. She graduated from the University of New Mexico Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Streamlines Procedures To Expedite Criminal Cases In State Courts

by

Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court has approved streamlined procedures in criminal and traffic cases to ease hardships in the justice system from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These changes in the judicial process will help efficiently use the resources of police, prosecutors, defense counsel and courts to move cases forward toward a resolution while honoring constitutional rights and protections,” Justice Briana Zamora said.

Justice David Thomson said, “When possible we want to prevent law enforcement officers, crime victims and witnesses from unnecessarily making Read More

FBI: Santa Fe Man Appears In Court Facing Charges Of Bank Robbery And Brandishing Firearm In Furtherance Of Crime

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Bobby Garcia, 29, of Santa Fe appeared in Federal Court Tuesday, March 22 for a preliminary and detention hearing, facing charges of bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Garcia will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to a criminal complaint, March 16, Garcia allegedly entered a Wells Fargo Bank on St. Michael’s Drive in Santa Fe and robbed it using a firearm. Garcia then allegedly fled the bank in a black Kia.

Shortly afterward, Santa Fe Police officers spotted a car Read More