Courts

FBI: Syndicato De Nuevo Mexico Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Angel DeLeon, 43, of Mexico, has been sentenced in federal court to life in prison for murder. A federal jury convicted DeLeon Sept. 16.

According to court records, DeLeon, along with Joe Lawrence Gallegos, 52, and Edward Troup, 50, killed another inmate, identified as “FC”, March 26, 2001, in the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility (“SNMCF”) in Doña Ana County, by using a cord from a laundry bag to strangle him.

Another inmate, identified in court records as “RG”, also was killed by strangulation at SNMCF on that same date. The killings were carried out on the orders Read More

In Reversal After NCLA Suit, DOJ To Allow Prisoners Moved To Home Confinement For COVID To Remain There

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NCLA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) commends Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for reversing course on the idea of automatically returning prisoners put on home confinement to prison once the pandemic ends.

Under an opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) last week, prisoners released to home confinement pursuant to 2020’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will not automatically return to prison post-pandemic and will be eligible to remain at home instead.

NCLA represents Dianthe Martinez-Brooks, Read More

AFT New Mexico Celebrates Victory In Long-Running Mora Independent School District Case

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AFT-NM President Whitney Holland

AFT-NM News:

American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT-NM) President, Whitney Holland, released the following statement: 

“After nearly five years of legal stall tactics and fruitless appeals by the Mora Independent School District, we are extremely pleased at the recent ruling by Judge Ben Chavez, which affirmed previous rulings in these wrongful terminations and awarded damages to three Mora educators.

“Originally stemming from three separate wrongful terminations by the Mora Independent School District, this judgment once again affirms Read More

New Mexico AG Balderas Sues Bob’s LP Gas For Failure To Provide Propane Gas; Provides Hotline For Consumers

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From the Officie of the Attorney General:

“This issue is a matter of life and death.” AG Balderas

SANTA FE — Thursday, following his investigation and consumer advisory on increased cost and unavailability of propane gas, Attorney General Hector Balderas filed a lawsuit against Bob’s LP Gas, Inc. (“Bob’s Gas”) for failure to provide the propane gas they had contracted to deliver to vulnerable Northern New Mexicans as the winter weather sets in.

“It is unconscionable that a company is able to leave hundreds of New Mexicans without access to safe heat when they need it the most,” Balderas said. Read More

Balderas Announces Landmark Settlements With Google Over Children’s Online Privacy

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

SANTA FE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced recently that his Consumer & Environmental Protection Division has resolved two federal court cases filed against Google LLC.

Both cases concern allegations made by Balderas against the company under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, as well as under state consumer protection laws.

The centerpiece of these settlements is the creation and funding of the Google New Mexico Kids Initiative. The Initiative sets aside millions of dollars to fund efforts to promote Read More

New Mexico AG Announces Emergency Room Technicians Can Draw Blood For Purposes Of DWI Investigations

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Friday that the New Mexico Supreme Court determined a hospital emergency department technician, also licensed as an EMT, with training and experience in drawing blood, is statutorily authorized to draw blood for the purposes of DWI investigations.

In one of at least six cases on appeal that arose under very similar fact patterns, an emergency department technician employed by a hospital and also licensed as an EMT performed a blood draw test on a DWI suspect at San Juan Regional Medical Center Read More

Heinrich, Luján On Senate Confirmation Of David Herrera Urías To Serve On U.S. District Court For New Mexico

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David Herrera Urías

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) voted Friday to confirm David Herrera Urías to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

Senators Heinrich and Luján recommended Urías to the Biden administration for the vacancy.

“Over the course of his legal career, David Herrera Urías has built an impressive reputation successfully litigating cases before state and federal courts, served as a role model for countless junior attorneys, and provided pro bono representation for the most vulnerable Read More

Los Alamos District Court Clerk’s Office Staffing Resumes

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COURT News:

SANTA FE – The First Judicial District Court will resume staffing the Los Alamos District Court Clerk’s Office 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed during the lunch hour), every Wednesday beginning Dec. 22. 

The Los Alamos District Court is in the Los Alamos Justice Center at 2500 Trinity Dr., Suite D.

Los Alamos, NM 87544 Phone: (505) 662-9561 (Wednesdays only)

In addition, District Court filings for Los Alamos County cases may be submitted by email to sfedfilings@nmcourts.gov or fax: 505.455.8280.

Public records requests may be submitted by email to: sfedrequests@nmcourts.gov and Forms Read More

Attorney General Balderas Announces Prison Sentence For Gallup Man Convicted Of Vehicular Homicide

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Wednesday that Mathew Vargas was sentenced by McKinley County Judge Robert Aragon to 7.5 years in the Department of Corrections. Vargas was convicted following a jury trial in April 2021 for vehicular homicide.

This was the fourth sentencing hearing for Vargas, with the most recent being rescheduled because Vargas collapsed in the courtroom. He later tested positive for alcohol and registered a BAC of .29.

Oct. 14, 2017, just outside of Gallup, Vargas drove while under the influence of Xanax Read More

Balderas Announces First-Degree Depraved Mind Murder Conviction Upheld By New Mexico Supreme Court For Shooting Of Young Victim

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Monday, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that the New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree depraved mind murder conviction of Esias Frank Madrid.

June 26, 2015, Madrid and several others drove to a house party in Albuquerque with firearms to exact revenge on a person who had beaten up a friend of Madrid’s two weeks prior.

Nick Gonzales, who testified for the State, fired two shots into the house and Madrid fired at least four shots, one of which killed the 17-year-old victim Jaydon Chavez-Silver.

“Jaydon Chavez-Silver Read More