Courts

New Mexico State Police Investigate Homicide In Santa Fe

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Karl Rougemont charged with Murder in the First Degree

NMSP News:

SANTS Fe – The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau was contacted to investigate a homicide Monday, March 7 that had occurred at the intersection of Saint Michaels Drive and Cerrillos Road.

Investigations Bureau agents learned that at around 5 p.m. March 7, Karl Rougemont, 31, of Santa Fe was driving a black Dodge Charger and Christopher Vigil, 40, of Santa Fe was driving a gold Chevy Blazer. Both drivers were traveling westbound on Saint Michaels Drive.

For reasons still under investigation, the two men stopped and got Read More

Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Allen Seeks Re-election

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Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Allen filed for re-election as Los Alamos County Municipal Court Judge this afternoon in Council Chambers. ‘I feel like there are more things I can do as Municipal Court Judge,’ Allen said. ‘I’m working to transform the pretrial and probation system to update procedures and requirements.’ Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com Read More

Probate Judge Michael Redondo Files For Re-election

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Democrat Michael Redondo filed to retain his seat as Los Alamos County Probate Judge this afternoon in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building. ‘I’m enjoying the job and this is a service the County needs,’ Redondo said. ‘Having someone to walk you through the process is a big help during probate.’ Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com Read More

Republican Tim Bullock Files For Magistrate Judge

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Tim Bullock-R, arrived this morning at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building to file for Magistrate Judge. Bullock is an attorney who has practiced law for several decades in Los Alamos and White Rock as well as other states. He has prosecuted as well as defended in criminal cases. He said he decided to run for Magistrate Judge ‘just for a new challenge’. Bullock has two adopted sons. One is in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the second attends Los Alamos High School. Bullock also is Eagle Project Advisor for Boy Scout Troop 122 and is membership chair for the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Photo Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules Against Citizen Petitions For Grand Jury Investigations Of Governor’s Response To COVID-19 Pandemic

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COURT News:

SANTA FE – Citizen-initiated petitions to convene grand juries to investigate the governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic are legally invalid, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled today.

The Court issued an order directing district court judges to deny grand jury petitions filed in Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties and any similar petitions elsewhere in the state “because they only describe lawful, noncriminal activity”, which is outside the boundaries of what a grand jury can investigate.

The Court noted its previous rulings that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham “acted lawfully Read More

Paying Fines And Fees In New Mexico Courts Made Easier With New Payment Processing System

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The public now has the convenience of using credit or debit cards to pay for fines and fees in all Appellate, District and participating Magistrate courts beginning March 1, 2022.

The New Mexico Judiciary’s new payment processing system will expand to all courts statewide beginning in April 2022.

Credit card terminals at courthouse counters will accommodate court customers using multiple payment types, including Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards, Discover, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. The public can pay for fines, fees, and for miscellaneous costs Read More

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Applauds New Mexico Supreme Court Decision To Uphold Public Stream Access

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, welcomed the New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision to uphold public stream access.

WATCH: Heinrich Applauds New Mexico Supreme Court Decision To Uphold Public Stream Access

“Today is an exciting day in New Mexico history. Our state Supreme Court reaffirmed the constitutional rights of New Mexicans to their public waters. This is a huge victory for people who care about our history, our culture, and our natural resources. Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Convicted Of Federal Robbery And Firearms Crimes Facing Potential Life Sentence

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A federal jury Friday returned a guilty verdict on Jacquan Abe, 24, of Albuquerque, for one count each of robbery, using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a stolen firearm.

Abe will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

A federal grand jury indicted Abe April 14, 2021. The evidence at trial showed Abe lived in a house directly behind an automobile repair shop on Eubank Boulevard. Aug. 6, 2019, Abe confronted an employee of the auto business while wearing a Highland High School Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Invalidates ‘Non-Navigable Rule’

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NMWF News:

The New Mexico Supreme Court Tuesday unanimously decided that a state game commission rule purporting to allow landowners to limit access to public waters is unconstitutional and void.

The court ruled in response to a legal challenge brought by the New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF), the Adobe Whitewater Club and the New Mexico Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

Santa Fe lawyers Gene Gallegos and Seth Cohen represented the groups at Tuesday’s court hearing. They emphasized that the rule violates the New Mexico State Constitution’s guarantee that the unappropriated Read More

AG Balderas Secures Guilty Plea Against Power Of Attorney Accused Of Financially Exploiting Nursing Home Resident

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALAMOGORDO — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Tuesday that Guadalupe Evelyn Kingston, who held power of attorney for a nursing home resident, pled guilty to Exploitation of a Resident’s Property (over $20,000), two counts of Forgery (each over $20,000), Identity Theft, and Falsification of Documents. 

Kingston represented to the Human Services Department that funds belonging to a nursing home resident were being held in a Medicaid trust, when in fact, no trust existed and Kingston was spending the funds on herself for trips, Read More