Courts

FBI: SNM Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder, Racketeering And Firearm Possession

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Jody Rufino “Mono” Martinez, 42, of Truchas, New Mexico, was sentenced Dec. 2 to life in prison for murder, participation in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) conspiracy, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition for conduct related to the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang. A federal jury convicted Martinez March 16.

According to public court records, Martinez has been a member and self-identified “soldier” of the SNM prison gang since 1998. Martinez has committed numerous violent crimes on behalf of the SNM since Read More

Los Alamos High School Students Yunseo Kim And Violet Henderson Attend 2021 Model International Criminal Court

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LAHS Junior Yunseo Kim

LAHS News:

Los Alamos High School juniors Yunseo Kim and Violet Henderson attended the 17th Model International Criminal Court (MICC) Nov. 16-21.

The MICC is a simulation of trials before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for students from all over the world. Located in the Hague, Netherlands, the ICC is the world’s most sophisticated mechanism for the protection of Human Rights and rules of warfare. MICC is a project that aims to teach core principles of the ICC to high school and university students.

This year, 33 students from Germany, Israel, Poland and the United Read More

New Mexico Attorney General Enters Into Historic Settlement For Opioid Dollars, Will Continue To Push Toward Trial Against Remaining Bad Actors

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas Tuesday announced that New Mexico will join in an $18.5 billion nationwide settlement with the three largest distributors of opioid medications in the United States.

The three distributors who will pay into the settlement over the next 18 years are McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health.

In 2017 Attorney General Balderas filed his lawsuit against the three companies, as well as against the manufacturers that make opioids and the retail pharmacies that sell Read More

Lunch With A Leader: Judge Elizabeth Allen Dec. 16

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Los Alamos Municipal Judge Elizabeth Kelly Allen

LWV News:

The League of Women Voters (LWV) community event Lunch with a Leader is noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 via Zoom.

Los Alamos Municipal Judge Elizabeth Kelly Allen is the featured speaker.

Judge Allen was born in Utah, the 10th child in her family. She met her husband Matthew while finishing her law degree at Pepperdine School of Law in Malibu, Calif.

After graduation they moved to Idaho where she opened her own law firm, E.K. Allen Law. Allen has worked as a criminal prosecutor and defense attorney, handled special education law, real estate, Read More

NMSC: Malpractice Law Does Not Stop Another Party From Taking Over Hospital’s Claim Against A Medical Provider

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico law allows a hospital sued for medical malpractice to assign to another party its claim for reimbursement from a health care provider for a share of damages paid by the hospital in a settlement, the state Supreme Court ruled today.

In a divided opinion, a majority of the state’s highest court held that the Medical Malpractice Act (MMA) does not prohibit nonpatients from assigning their indemnity claims to someone else although Section 41-5-12 of the statute does bar a patient from assigning their claims for compensation for damages.

“We conclude that Read More

New Mexico AG Announces Judge Who Used Public Employment To Steal $284,000 From Deceased Man’s Estate Sentenced To Prison

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced that Pamela and Randy Smith have been sentenced to prison for multiple frauds and for engaging in an official act for personal gain.

Pamela Smith previously served as a probate judge and deputy medical investigator for the City of Truth or Consequences. She used her official positions to falsify public records related to a deceased man’s estate and appointed her husband, Randy Smith, as special administrator to that man’s estate.

Randy Smith used his appointed position to steal approximately Read More

FBI: Man Convicted By Federal Jury Of Brandishing Firearm While Robbing Albuquerque Supermarket Faces 20 Years

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Dec. 1 in the trial of Jesse Barela, 35, of Albuquerque. Barela will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

A grand jury indicted Jesse Barela and his brother, Julian Barela, 50, Sept. 10, 2020, charging them with interference with commerce by threats and violence. Julian Barela pleaded guilty Oct. 6.

According to the indictment and other court records, Nov. 26, 2019, the two men entered an Albertson’s Supermarket in Albuquerque and filled a shopping cart with hundreds of dollars in goods. They then Read More

New Mexico District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies Issues Statement On ‘Rust’ Film Shooting

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District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies

From the Office of the District Attorney:

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has issued the following statement on the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins:

“As the First Judicial District Attorney, I have not made a decision to charge or not charge any individuals involved in the shooting that resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins and injury of Joel Souza.

“I will exercise my prosecutorial discretion to its fullest, including filing charges that are supported by probable cause.

“My office is exploring various legal Read More

Staffing Changes To Los Alamos District Court

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — The District Court Clerk’s Office in Los Alamos will no longer be open one day a week. The change in operations took effect Dec. 1.

The Los Alamos Magistrate Court Clerk’s Office will remain open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and is open during the lunch hour.

District Court filings for Los Alamos County cases can be submitted by email and are accepted in-person at the District Court in Santa Fe. 

In the past, the Los Alamos District Court Clerk’s Office was open only Wednesdays and a clerk from the District Court in Santa Fe traveled to Los Alamos to staff the Read More

Balderas: Child Predator Sentenced To 57 Years In Prison

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AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Jordan Padilla was committed to 57 years in the Department of Corrections as part of a 271 year sentence.

On June 25, 2021, a Bernalillo County jury convicted the Defendant of 25 felony counts related to the prolific sexual abuse of children, including charges of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13 years of age, false imprisonment, and sexual exploitation of children.

Judge Cindy Leos presided over the trial and sentencing. As part of this sentence, Judge Leos ordered restitution for the unidentified child Read More