Courts

New Mexico AG Targets Predators On School Campuses

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office 0f the Attorney General:

…Secures 84 Additional Years Against Serial Rapist Gary Gregor

SANTA FE – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Gary Gregor, a former elementary teacher at Agua Fria Elementary School in Santa Fe, was sentenced to 84 additional years in prison.

Last week, a jury found Gregor guilty of four counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor, and one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

This is the third trial that the Attorney General’s Office has successfully prosecuted against Gregor for Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court To Hear Arguments In Las Cruces With Case Serving As Part Of Student Civics Program

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Justice David K. Thomson

COURT News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court resumes a civics education program for students next month when it visits Las Cruces to hear legal arguments in a criminal case. 

“The Court is excited to announce the second year of the Rule of the Law program,” Justice David K. Thomson said. “The goal is to help young people better understand the role of the court system and the rule of law in our constitutional democracy.”

April 1, the Court will convene in Las Cruces to hear arguments by attorneys in a case involving three people charged with stealing multiple cattle from their Read More

Attorney General Balderas Announces Maximum Sentence For Former West Las Vegas Middle School Security Guard Convicted Of Crimes Against Children

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Monday the sentencing of former Las Vegas security guard, Abran Ulibarri.

Judge Abigail Aragon imposed the maximum sentence allowed under the plea of 10 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections.

The victim also spoke to the court in favor of incarceration.

“This was not a lapse of judgment,” Judge Aragon said at sentencing. “It was premeditated, predatory conduct on a vulnerable child.”

Ulibarri was immediately taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.

“I honor this young Read More

Balderas Files Criminal Charge Against Couy Griffin For Failing To Comply With New Mexico Campaign Reporting Act

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Couy Griffin

From The Mexico Office Of The Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Friday that his office filed a misdemeanor criminal information against Couy Griffin for one count of violating the Campaign Reporting Act.

Griffin was ordered by the Secretary of State (SOS) to register his organization, Cowboys for Trump, as a political action committee, in accordance with State law. The organization attempted to challenge the law, claiming that the SOS could not order them to comply. 

In February, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the challenge, Read More

FBI: Mexican National Woman Pleads Guilty To Firearms Possession In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking Crime

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Elizabeth Talamantes, 39, pleaded guilty March 16 in federal court to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Talamantes will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

A federal grand jury indicted Talamantes Aug. 25, 2020.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, Talamantes, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States Sept. 18, 2017. She was found present in Albuquerque July 28, 2020, and admitted that she knowingly reentered the United States illegally.

Aug. 4, 2020, while Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Expanding Program Statewide To Assist People Facing Eviction

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Post file photo

COURT News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court will phase in an Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program statewide starting in April and in stages lift a moratorium on evictions of people unable to pay their rent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program helps tenants access money available through the state Department of Finance and Administration for unpaid rent and utilities, temporary housing at a motel or hotel, and the initial costs of moving into new permanent housing. The court-based also provides trained facilitators to assist landlords and tenants in negotiating Read More

Justice Thomson: New Mexico Supreme Court Expands Educational Program On The Rule Of Law

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By JUSTICE DAVID K. THOMSON
New Mexico Supreme Court

I am excited to announce the second year of a New Mexico Supreme Court civics education program about the judiciary’s role in our democracy and the development of the rule of law.

Last year’s program was a resounding success, reaching over 580 students in schools statewide. Students watched recordings of an oral argument before our Supreme Court and worked with learning materials about the case. I then visited classes virtually, accompanied by the prosecution and defense attorneys, to discuss the legal issues and judicial process.

As Justice Read More

New Mexico Attorney General Announces Flash Mob Criminal Isaiah Martinez To Remain In Jail

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announces that serial shoplifter Isaiah Martinez will remain in jail as his criminal cases move forward.

District Court Judge Joseph Montano found that Martinez was a danger to the community and to the state’s economy. Judge Montano also found that there were no conditions of release that would ensure Martinez’s compliance with court orders because Martinez was already under conditions of release in two other cases with which he did not comply.

“I commend Judge Montano Read More

U.S. Marshals Service Arrests Suspect In Bernalillo County Kidnapping And Assault Case

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U.S. Marshal Sonya K. Chavez 

U.S. Marshals Service News:

ALBUQUERQUE — March 8, Derek Laurice FOOTE was arrested by the United States Marshals Service Southwest Investigative Fugitive Task Force (USMS-SWIFT), following the issuance of a Bench Warrant in the Second Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County.

The warrant was issued when FOOTE failed to comply with Court orders (bond violation). 

FOOTE had been charged with Criminal Sexual Penetration, First Degree; Great Bodily Harm/Mental  Anguish (two counts), Kidnapping First Degree w/Intent to Commit Sexual Offense and Aggravated  Read More

New Law Strengthens Legal Representation For Children & Families In Abuse & Neglect Proceedings

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Justice Briana Zamora

Administrative Office of the Courts News:

SANTA FE — A new state law will create an independent office to provide legal representation to children, parents, custodians and guardians in cases involving allegations of abuse and neglect of youth.

“Critical decisions are made in abuse and neglect proceedings that determine whether children can safely remain at home, should be placed in foster care and when families can be reunited or parents lose their custody rights.  The Office of Family Representation and Advocacy will strengthen the legal representation children Read More