Courts

NMDWS: Texas Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing $160,000 In New Mexico Pandemic Benefits

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NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Texas man pleaded guilty last week to stealing more than $160,000 in federal unemployment relief funds issued by New Mexico during the pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the guilty plea by Marc Long — the result of continued work by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) to prosecute pandemic-era fraud.

The case underscores the NMDWS’ continued commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud involving unemployment benefit programs.

“The guilty plea in the Marc Long case sends a clear message: New Mexico has Read More

The Story Of Judge Catherine Taylor

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Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor with students from LAHS Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class. Courtesy/LAPS

By ARIEL MARTINEZ
Los Alamos High School
Sports Lit Student

During a recent school field trip to the courthouse, I had the opportunity to interview Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor. Speaking with her gave me a stronger understanding of what she truly does with her work and how it’s important.

Taylor also shared some helpful advice I can take with me, especially if I choose to go into law one day. I am going to share some questions I got to ask her and what she told me.

During the interview, Read More

Fraudulent Phone Calls Regarding Arrest Warrants Continue To Surface In District Of New Mexico

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U.S. COURTS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico has recently been notified of individuals being targeted in a court-related scam.

The targets have been told that a warrant for their arrest has been or will be issued by a federal judge regarding their failure to respond to a subpoena or appear in court. The scammer may ask for personal identifiers and may request an email address to which they will send a falsified warrant.

The scammer will then ask for immediate payment of fines with the assurance this will resolve the warrant. The scammers may use the Read More

Voting Rights Groups File Motion To Protect Privacy

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CCNM News:

          • Lawsuit challenges DOJ demand for sensitive voter data

SANTA FE — Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) and two individual New Mexico voters joined the ACLU National Voting Rights Project and the ACLU of New Mexico in filing a motion to intervene in United States of America v. Toulouse Oliver to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from obtaining New Mexico voters’ personal data.

In July, the DOJ asked New Mexico to turn over voters’ full names, dates of birth, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers—highly sensitive data that is protected under state Read More

Elizabeth Allen’s Judging Journey

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Municipal Judge Elizabeth Allen with students in LAHS Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class. Courtesy/LAPS

By Blake King and Logan Swickley
Los Alamos High School
Sports Lit Students

Municipal Judge Elizabeth Allen has been one of the leading judges for Los Alamos County since 2018. Before she became Municipal Judge, she attended the Pepperdine School of Law in Malibu, Calif., during which, she attained her law degree. She spent 7-8 years as a prosecuting attorney, a defense attorney and a sole practitioner.

Throughout her career, Allen has served in a variety of roles in the justice system, Read More

Attorney 101: Senior Trial Attorney Elizabeth Counce

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Senior Trial Attorney Elizabeth Counce – Los Alamos Office, 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, in the Justice Center with students from Los Alamos High School Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class. Courtesy/LAPS

By JAVAN RAEL
Los Alamos High School
Sports Lit Student

Recently in our Sports Lit Class, we conducted interviews with people who work at the courthouse. We got assigned to Senior Trial Attorney Elizabeth Counce of the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The interview and the whole experience were informative and enjoyable.

During the interview, we found Read More

Inspired By Creating Community Through Youth Advocacy

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CASA First’s Grace Korthuis and a child play with blocks. Courtesy/CASA First

By GRACE KORTHUIS
CASA First

As a 24-year-old living in Northern New Mexico, it can be difficult to create community. Working at the nonprofit CASA First, I’m inspired by the compassionate community I’m now part of. It includes my colleagues who uplift vulnerable children, and volunteers who inspire me with their care and steadfastness. I feel especially connected to the families and kids whom I get to see grow and heal over time.

Working within the child welfare system is often devastating, especially here in New

Read More

FBI: Gallup Man Sentenced For Beating/Choking Partner

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for strangling his dating partner and leaving her with life-threatening injuries.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of March 6, 2024, Victor Badonie, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe. During this attack, Badonie menaced Doe in various ways—he punched Doe in her face multiple times, he choked her by pinning her down using his forearm against her neck, he ripped her hair out, and he broke her phone as she tried Read More

FBI: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty To Assault On Border Patrol Agents In Las Cruces

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Arizona man pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer after ramming a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle while fleeing in a stolen car in Las Cruces.

According to court documents, on March 31, 2025, Christopher Jack Leach, 33, learned there was a warrant for his arrest in Arizona, borrowed a friend’s vehicle under false pretenses, and fled toward Florida with a passenger knowing the vehicle was stolen.

He traveled across state lines while evading law enforcement.

On April 2, 2025, Leach was driving the stolen vehicle through Las Cruces when he saw law enforcement following Read More

FBI: Anthony Man Sentenced For Drug Trafficking, Firearms

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Anthony man was sentenced to 235 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, in July and Aug. 2024, David Amaya, 43, sold methamphetamine to a controlled buyer from a tow-behind trailer on his parents’ property in Anthony, New Mexico. The controlled buys prompted law enforcement to obtain and execute a search warrant on Aug. 22, 2024.

Agents searched the trailer and an attached makeshift bathroom structure, recovering over 1.18 Read More