Courts

FBI: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty To Stalking A Family

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Stephen Yochim, 48, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty Oct. 18 in federal court to stalking. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

According to his plea agreement and other court records, Yochim allegedly sent a series of messages from multiple Google email (gmail) accounts to an Albuquerque couple.

In highly graphic language, the messages, received between Jan. 11 and Jan. 15, threatened physical violence against one of the recipients and expressed morbid joy at the prospect of cancer afflicting the other recipient.

Included in the profane terms directed toward Read More

Third Search Warrant Issued In ‘Rust’ Movie Shooting Case

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New Mexico Courts News:

The Santa Fe County Magistrate Court issued a search warrant today and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department filed a search warrant affidavit involving a shooting incident Thursday, Oct. 21 on the “Rust” movie set at 545 Bonanza Creek Road in southern Santa Fe.

During the rehearsal of a scene, actor/producer Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun, which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.

The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies held a joint press conference today and said that the investigation

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Students File Novel Fossil Fuel Divestment Complaint Aimed At UNM Endowment

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UNM LEAF News:

Today, students, faculty, and staff at the University of New Mexico (UNM) asked the New Mexico Attorney General to investigate whether the UNM Foundation’s Endowment investments in fossil fuels violate New Mexico state law.

The complaint, spearheaded by UNM LEAF (Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight), with the assistance of the Climate Defense Project, calls on Attorney General Hector Balderas to investigate whether the UNM Foundation, as a non-profit public charity, has violated the New Mexico Uniform Prudential Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) Read More

DA Carmack-Altwies Issues Statement On ‘Rust’ Shooting

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From the Office of the District Attorney:
First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies issued the following statement this morning about the shooting on the set of the movie “Rust” filming south of Santa Fe.
“This case is still in its preliminary states of investigation. We are assisting the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and have offered our full support to them.
“At this time, we do not know if charges will be filed. We will look into all facts and evidence of the case with great discretion and have further information at a later time.
“Our thoughts are with all affected by this tragedy.”
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FBI: Albuquerque Pediatric Surgeon Pleads Guilty To Possession, Distribution Of Child Pornography

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Guy Rosenschein, 68, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty Oct. 15 in federal court to seven counts of distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

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

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on several occasions in 2016, Rosenschein, who at the time was a pediatric surgeon at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, used a Yahoo! email account Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Orders Trial In Case Alleging Undue Influence In Transfer Of Real Estate

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State Supreme Court orders a trial in a real estate dispute in which an elderly man’s daughter alleges ownership of 1,900 acres in Socorro County was transferred to her brother because of undue influence over their father. Post file photo

NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) has ordered a trial in a real estate dispute in which an elderly man’s daughter alleges that ownership of 1,900 acres in Socorro County was transferred to her brother because of his undue influence over their father.

In a unanimous opinion, the Court concluded that when a party alleges that a conveyance was Read More

Court Rules Federal Government Must Address Poaching In Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan

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Mexican Gray Wolf on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Photo by Jim Clark/USFWS

Defenders of Wildlife News:

In response to a lawsuit by conservation groups, a judge has ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must add specific actions to address illegal killing of Mexican wolves in their plan for the species’ recovery.

The group’s 2018 lawsuit claimed that the plan failed to meet basic requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to provide site-specific management actions and objectives with measurable recovery criteria to address the most immediate Read More

NM Judicial Compensation Commission Meets Tuesday

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Judicial Compensation Commission meets Tuesday, Oct. 5, to finalize recommendations to the 2022 Legislature for a possible judicial salary increase.

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 5.

PLACE: Live streamed on the New Mexico Courts YouTube channel.

Click here for the Oct. 5 meeting agenda.

The independent six-member commission is required by state law to annually recommend a judicial pay plan to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Department of Finance and Administration.

The commission is chaired by Sergio Pareja, dean Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Woman Found Guilty In Bank Robbery Faces Up To 20 Years In Prison

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Sept. 29 against Rhonda Quintana, 39, of Albuquerque, on one count of aiding and abetting and bank robbery.

Quintana will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.

According to a federal indictment and other court records, on March 13, 2018, Quintana drove James Verdream to the Rio Grande Credit Union on 4th Street NW in Albuquerque. Verdream entered the credit union and passed a demand note to a teller. Verdream took money from the teller, returned to the car and fled with Quintana.

Verdream Read More

Los Alamos County Magistrate Court Judge Pat A. Casados Announces Decision Not To Run For Another Term In 2022

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Judge Pat A. Casados has served for the past 19 years on the Los Alamos County Magistrate Court. She announced this morning that she will not seek re-election in 2022. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By Judge Pat A. Casados
Los Alamos County Magistrate Court

The Judiciary is a vital branch of our government. We are proud to have stayed open and working for the citizens of New Mexico in this tiring time.

For the past 19 years it has been my honor and privilege to serve as the Magistrate Judge for the County of Los Alamos. Upon careful consideration and thought, I have decided not to run for another Read More