Courts

FBI: Santa Rosa Man Faces Meth, Fentanyl Trafficking

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Paul James Jaramillo, III, 31, of Santa Rosa was arraigned in federal court May 24 on an indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Jaramillo will remain in custody pending trial.

According to the indictment filed May 12, 2021, Jaramillo allegedly committed this offense March 11 in Bernalillo County by being in possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Jaramillo faces up to 20 Read More

FBI: Farmington Woman Faces 15 Years To life In Prison On Federal Firearm And Drug-Trafficking Charges

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Mariah Jones, 30, of Farmington was arraigned May 20 in Federal Court on a three-count indictment charging her with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A federal grand jury indicted Jones April 23. Jones will remain in custody pending trial.

According to the indictment, Feb. 24, 2020 in San Juan County, Jones allegedly was in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine as well as a rifle. As a previously convicted felon, Jones cannot Read More

AG Balderas: Grand Jury Indictment Of Counselor Accused Of Stealing Thousands Of Dollars From Medicaid Program  

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

LAS CRUCES – New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today that the Office of the Attorney General secured a grand jury indictment against Cathy Chidester of Drop In Counseling for defrauding the State’s Medicaid program, among other charges.

Chidester is accused of illegally billing the program, spanning Sept. 1, 2017 to Oct. 28, 2019. Chidester faces 15 felony charges, including multiple counts of fraud over $20,000.00, obstruction of investigation, Medicaid fraud and theft of identity. 

“Medicaid Read More

FBI: Navajo Man Pleads Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter

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FBI News: 

 ALBUQUERQUE — Felix Curtis, 26, of Fruitland, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty May 14 in federal court to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country.

A grand jury indicted Curtis Aug. 11, 2020. According to the indictment and other court documents, Curtis committed this offense Sept. 14, 2019 in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation. 

Curtis was driving while intoxicated when he caused an accident that killed a man, identified in court records as John Doe. Curtis admitted to operating the vehicle without due caution and circumspection and with a wanton and Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules Inmate’s Deadly Weapon Possession Convictions Violate Double Jeopardy Rights

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) Thursday vacated one of a prisoner’s two convictions for possession of a deadly weapon because the multiple punishments for violations of the same law violated constitutional double jeopardy rights.

In a unanimous opinion, the Court determined that Milo Benally’s convictions were based on a “single course of conduct” rather than two separate, distinct acts. Under the facts in Benally’s case, the justices concluded that the Legislature did not intend for multiple punishments of the law against possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner. Read More

District Attorney Reaches Resolution In Obelisk Cases

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District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies

From the Office of the District Attorney:

SANTA FE – The District Attorney’s office and all but one of the Defendants charged with felonies have reached a resolution to the Obelisk cases that will further reconciliation in the community.

“It was my promise upon assuming this position that our office would do our best to divert non-violent and first-time offenders from costly and unnecessary incarceration,” District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said. “The Obelisk case defendants meet the criteria I set out for diversionary programming. We have Read More

Union Protectiva De Santa Fe Requests Public Update From DA, Mayor On Status Of Charges In Desecration Of Obelisk

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ICOURT News:

SANTA FE— This morning, Union Protectiva de Santa Fe, one of the oldest Spanish Fraternal Organizations in the United States, and the northern New Mexico Spanish community are calling on First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber to give a public update on the status of the Obelisk desecration case.

As these politicians have spoken volumes with their silence, rumors abound in the legal community that District Attorney Carmack-Altweis is about to dismiss charges against the defendants in the Obelisk desecration case. Since rumors and Read More

DA Mary Carmack-Altwies Disappointed In Judge Jason Lidyard’s Rejection Of Plea In Triple Homicide Case

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District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies

From the Office of the District Attorney:

SANTA FE — The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office is disappointed in Judge Jason Lidyard’s decision Thursday to reject the plea of life plus nine years in the case of State v. Gage.

Gage attempted to plead guilty to a brutal triple homicide.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies stated, “The victims’ families were very clear with us that they do not want to go through another trial. The last one was traumatic for them, and they whole-heartedly agreed that this plea was justice in their eyes.”

Judge Jason Read More

Governor Appoints Roscoe Augustus Woods Of Socorro To Seventh Judicial District Court Vacancy

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday that she has named Roscoe Augustus Woods of Socorro to the Seventh Judicial District Court, Division II.

He fills a vacancy created by the death of Chief Judge Matthew Reynolds in March.

Woods has led his own private practice firm in Socorro since 2015. He previously served as Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Open Government Division for the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General and worked as a special commissioner for the Seventh Judicial District Court.

Born and raised in New Mexico, Woods graduated high Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Outlines Limits On Its Equitable Powers In Primary Election Case

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) issued an opinion today explaining its legal reasoning for ordering the state’s top election official to mail applications for absentee ballots to all eligible primary election voters last year during the public health emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This remedy promoted the health of the voting public and election workers by making it easier for voters to cast their ballots from the safety of their own homes. We also honored the separation of powers by preserving the Legislature’s plenary power to set election Read More