Courts

One Of The Oldest Hispanic Fraternal Organizations In U.S. Sues Mayor And Santa Fe Over Destruction Of Obelisk 

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The 33-foot high monument, known as the Soldier’s Monument or simply the Obelisk. Courtesy photo

Remains of the Obelisk June 14, 2021. Courtesy photo

COURT News:

SANTA FE – This morning, Union Protectíva de Santa Fé announced that through its counsel, Ken Stalter, the organization has filed suit seeking injunctions against Mayor Alan Webber and the City of Santa Fe ­“for calling for and allowing the destruction of the Soldier’s Monument, which was erected in 1868 to honor Hispanic veterans for their service, and desecrating the Plaza”.

The complaint explains how Mayor Webber violated the Read More

New Mexico Ranks #1 In Nation For Language Access In The Justice System

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A touchless interactive kiosk developed by the New Mexico Judiciary’s Language Access program. The kiosk integrates a multilingual avatar called ‘Clara’ to help the public, including with directions in courthouses, forms and the ability to connect users with court staff. Kiosks will be deployed this summer in the First, Second, Fifth, Eighth and Eleventh Judicial Districts. Courtesy/Administrative Office of the Courts

Las Cruces Magistrate Court Judge Joel Cano presided over arraignments in early May 2020 in which video remote interpreting was provided for defendants in jail. Fabiola Read More

FBI: Navajo Nation Man Pleads Guilty To 2nd Degree Murder

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Mathias Neal, 21, from Sheep Springs and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court June 3 to an information charging him with second degree murder in Indian Country.

According to his plea agreement, on or about July 12, 2015, Neal and an accomplice got into a physical altercation with John Doe while at a chapter house, a local governance building, in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation.

During the altercation, Neal punched and kicked the victim while he was on the ground and hit him with brass knuckles and rocks to his head and throat, causing Read More

FBI: Lester Padilla Sentenced To 12.7 Years In Prison For Committing Bank Robberies In Española And Santa Fe

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Lester Padilla, 48, was sentenced in federal court June 8 to 12 years and 7 months in prison for robbing three Wells Fargo Bank locations in Española and Santa Fe.

Padilla pleaded to an indictment Sept. 24, 2020.

According to an indictment and other court records, Sept. 9, 2019, Padilla entered a Wells Fargo Bank in Española and handed a teller a demand note that read, “Give me your loose cash or I’ll shoot you”.

The teller handed money from the cash drawers and Padilla left the bank. Padilla walked to a nearby convenience store and solicited a ride.

Sept. 24, 2019, Padilla entered Read More

Leadership Los Alamos Accepting Applications For 2021-22

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Members of the 2019-2020 LLA class, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. After a break, the class resumed remotely to complete the remaining sessions and their graduation from the program was recognized even though a ceremony could not be held. Courtesy/LLA

LLA News:

Leadership Los Alamos (LLA) is accepting applications for its 2021-2022 class, set to begin Sept. 24.

LLA is a program designed for individuals who live or work in Los Alamos County and who are committed to assuming roles of responsibility in civic, charitable, and governmental organizations. Interested individuals Read More

New Mexico AG Files Suit Against Baby-Food Makers And Retailers Selling Products Containing Toxic Heavy Metals

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

SANTA FE — Attorney General Hector Balderas filed suit Monday against a number of baby-food makers and major retail chains, alleging that they market and sell products in the State that are tainted with dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium.

Filed in First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, the Attorney General’s complaint asserts that defendants including Beech-Nut, Nurture, Hain Celestial, WalMart, and Kroger have violated consumer protection laws by promoting and selling certain contaminated products as safe and appropriate Read More

California Man Gets 6 Months For Assault In flight To Albq

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Alton James Johnson, 43, of Yuba City, California, was sentenced on May 26 in federal court to six months in prison for assaulting two flight attendants while he was a passenger. Johnson pleaded guilty on Jan. 12.

According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 23, 2019, during a flight from San Diego, Calif., to Albuquerque, Johnson repeatedly touched a female flight attendant up and down the backs of her legs. After she told him to stop, Johnson then grabbed the flight attendant by the buttocks.

When a second flight attendant stepped in and asked Johnson not to touch any flight Read More

Sheriff’s Office Announces Anthony Garcia Newest Registered Sex Offender In Los Alamos County

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Anthony Garcia

COUNTY SHERIFF News:

Los Alamos County Sheriff Joseph Granville is advising the community of a newly registered sex offender

Anthony Garcia registered with the local sheriff’s office Tuesday, June 2. He was convicted in the First District Court of Los Alamos of five counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Child under 13 (30-9-11(C)), a first-degree felony and 10 counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor under the age of 13 (R-30-9-13), a second-degree felony.

Garcia is residing at 264 DP Road.

For further information regarding registered convicted sex offenders, Read More

Carmack-Altwies: The Case For Restorative Justice

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By MARY CARMACK-ALTWIES
Democratic Candidate
District Attorney, Dist. 1

The destruction of the Plaza obelisk was a crime. Criminals damaged public property and damaged the fabric of trust in our community. No matter what you believe about the obelisk, we will never forget the images of it being torn down in a way that was chaotic, violent and caused so many hearts to break.

Last week, after months of careful investigation and negotiation between the defendants, their attorneys and my office, a resolution was reached that, I believe, ensures justice for those who committed the crime, while working Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court: ‘Actual Endangerment’ Not Required For Conviction In Fleeing Police In Hi-Speed Chase

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a person can be convicted of the felony offense of aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer without another person being in the vicinity of the pursuit.

In a divided decision, a majority of the state’s highest court concluded that the criminal statute did not require proof of “actual endangerment” of another person by the motorist attempting to elude police. 

“We interpret the aggravated fleeing statute to require only that a defendant willfully and carelessly drove so dangerously that the defendant Read More