Courts

LOPD: Justices Affirm Pretrial Release Ruling In Public Defender Case Targeted By Bernalillo District Attorney

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From the Law Offices of the Public Defender:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court Friday affirmed a 2nd Judicial District Court judge’s ruling allowing a teenager accused of multiple home burglaries to await trial under strict conditions of release on house arrest.

The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office asked the court to reconsider the pretrial detention of Jesse Mascareno-Haidle, 19, after failing twice to convince two judges to hold him in jail pending his trial. T

he prosecutor’s office claims Mascareno-Haidle is a suspect in some 80 burglaries, but has only charged him with Read More

New Mexico State Police Arrests Man In Cold Case Murder

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NMSP News:

ALAMOGORDO – New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigation Bureau agents, the NMSP Tactical Team and officers from the Fugitive Apprehension Unit assisted the Anaheim Police Department from California Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in tracking down a murder suspect in Alamogordo.

The male suspect who was identified as William Lepere, 64, from Alamogordo, was wanted in a cold case murder, which occurred in the 1980s in Anaheim, Calif.

During the investigation, a search warrant was obtained and served by the NMSP on Lepere’s residence. Lepere was taken into custody and arrested without Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules Release Pending Appeal For Defendants Meeting State Law Requirements

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — Defendants convicted of certain offenses are entitled to release pending appeal if they meet the requirements of a 1988 New Mexico law, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The Court’s unanimous opinion provided the legal reasoning for its decision last September to order the release of former Portales daycare owners Mary and Sandi Taylor while they appealed convictions of reckless child abuse.

One girl died and another suffered serious injuries in 2017 after they were left in a hot car for more than two hours outside the home-based daycare the Taylors operated.

State Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Vigil, In Celebrating Law Day, Commends Efforts For Equal Justice

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Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Vigil

NMSC News:

SANTA FE — Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Vigil Friday called for a renewed dedication to ensuring equal justice for all New Mexicans, and he commended legal aid groups, attorneys and court staff for efforts to expand access to legal services across the state.

“We salute these efforts, but let us offer greater support to those who work daily to provide legal services to those who most need them,” the Chief Justice stated in a proclamation to celebrate Law Day on Saturday. “Let us dedicate ourselves to improving our Read More

NMPJP: Whistleblower Ousted For Raising Concerns About Rodent Infestation At New Mexico Women’s Prison In Grants

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In February 2019, NMPJP filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of two women incarcerated in what is described as a rodent infested prison in Grants. Now NMPJP has filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of former prison employee Nicole Ramirez, who shares her story about being harassed and threatened by leadership at the prison after filing a written complaint about the infestation. Courtesy photo

NMPJP News:

In February 2021, the New Mexico Prison & Jail Project (NMPJP) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Susie Zapata and Monica Garcia, two inmates whose civil rights were violated because of their Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil To Retire

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Justice Barbara J. Vigil. Courtesy photo

Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – Justice Barbara J. Vigil plans to retire from the New Mexico Supreme Court at the end of June. She is the longest-serving member of the current Court.

Justice Vigil joined the state’s highest court in December 2012, and was Chief Justice in 2014-16.

The justice was a district court judge in the First Judicial District of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties from 2000 until her election to the Supreme Court. She became chief judge of the district in 2011. For 10 years while on the district court, she presided over Read More

FBI: Husband And Wife Charged With Assaulting Metropolitan Police Officers During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

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Mark Middleton, 52, of Forestburg, Texas, and Jalise Middleton, 51, also of Forestburg, Texas were arrested Wednesday and charged with assaulting two police officers and other crimes. Courtesy/FBI

FBI News:

  • ‘Couple Repeatedly Struck Officers in Attempt to Breach Capitol Barricades’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, April 21, a Texas couple was arrested for assaulting two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, as well as other crimes, during the Jan. 6 breach on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming Presidential election Read More

New Mexico State Land Office Files Lawsuit To Clean Up Massive Abandoned Oil And Gas Site In McKinley County

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This map shows the location of expired leases and inactive wells. Courtesy/State Land Office 

State Land Office News:

SANTA FE — In honor of Earth Day Thursday, April 22, the New Mexico State Land Office filed its 16th lawsuit in its ongoing Accountability and Enforcement Program.

The Accountability and Enforcement Program, launched in November 2020, is a historic, agency-wide programmatic approach being undertaken to ensure oil and gas companies, and other lease holders, honor their contractual promise to operate and close out responsibly.

“At the core of our Accountability and Enforcement Read More

Court Of Appeals Judge Gerald E. Baca Takes Oath Of Office

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Court of Appeals Judge Gerald Baca taking the oath of office. Courtesy/Fourth Judicial District Court

Gift from judges and court staff to Judge Gerald Baca. Courtesy/Fourth Judicial District Court

Virtual ceremony of Judge Gerald Baca taking the oath of office. Courtesy/Fourth Judicial District Court

NMSC News:

LAS VEGAS, NM — Judge Gerald E. Baca was sworn into office Friday as a judge of the state Court of Appeals.

In a virtual ceremony, Judge Baca took the oath of office in a courtroom at the San Miguel County Courthouse. Chief Justice Michael Vigil administered the oath from his office in Read More