Courts

Red Flag Gun Bill ‘Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act’ Steeped In Controversy Clears Senate Panel

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By JENS GOULD
The New Mexican

In an emotional hearing before hundreds of supporters and detractors, a state Senate panel narrowly passed a high-profile gun bill today that would allow law enforcement to obtain a court order to confiscate guns from people considered dangerous.

The Senate Public Affairs committee voted 4-3 along party lines in favor of Senate Bill 5, known as the “Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act”.

The bill will now be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The legislation is a marquee item on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s agenda and likely to be one of the most contentious Read More

NM Supreme Court Rules Injured Tribal Casino Worker Cannot Seek Benefits Through State Workers’ Comp

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NMSC News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that tribal sovereignty precludes an Isleta Pueblo casino employee injured on the job from bringing a claim against the Pueblo or its insurer under the state workers’ compensation program.

In a unanimous opinion, the state’s highest court reversed a decision by the Court of Appeals to allow Gloria Mendoza to proceed with a claim for benefits filed with the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA).

Ms. Mendoza injured her knee while pushing chairs at the casino Aug. 24, 2015. The Pueblo’s third-party workers’ compensation Read More

FBI: Larry Hopkins Pleads Guilty To Firearm Charge

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Larry Mitchell Hopkins, who also is known as Johnny Horton Jr., 70, of Flora Vista, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

A grand jury indicted Hopkins April 24, 2019 for this offense. 

In his plea agreement, Hopkins admitted committing this offense in San Juan County by possessing nine pistols, rifles and shotguns Nov. 28, 2017.  Hopkins also admitted possessing ammunition after being previously convicted of felony offenses in Michigan, Oregon and South Dakota, including illegal weapon possession Read More

FBI Files Federal Arrest Warrant For Rico-Ruvira

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Jorge Ernesto Rico-Ruvira

FBI News:

The FBI has filed a federal arrest warrant charging Jorge Ernesto Rico-Ruvira with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

Chaves County Magistrate Court in Roswell issued a state felony arrest warrant Jan. 8 charging Rico-Ruvira with one count of murder, after he allegedly killed a woman in Roswell and is believed to have fled with their 3-year-old son.

The U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico issued a federal arrest warrant Friday for Rico-Ruvira.

Rico-Ruvira, 32, is described as a Hispanic male, 5’8” tall, and weighs approximately 150 pounds. Read More

State Takes Enforcement Action Against Cannon Air Force Base For Discharging Without Permit

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NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) today issued an administrative compliance order to the United States Air Force for ongoing violations of state law related to the protection of groundwater resources.

The administrative compliance order seeks immediate compliance with groundwater discharge permitting requirements and assesses a civil penalty of $1,699,872.60.

In 2018, the state began protecting groundwater resources from three per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals, a group of manmade chemicals known to cause adverse health effects. Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Forms Committee To Consider Changes In Pretrial Detention Rules

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SUPREME COURT News:

 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court has ordered the establishment of a 15-member committee to consider possible changes in procedures for the pretrial detention of criminal defendants.

 

“The work of the committee can help strengthen the reforms approved by voters in the 2016 constitutional amendment and provide additional guidance to judges making the difficult decisions about pretrial detention and release,” Chief Justice Judith K. Nakamura said in a statement.

 

Retired Justice Edward Chávez will chair the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Pretrial Read More

Los Alamos Police Blotter: Dec. 27, 2019 – Jan. 1, 2020

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LAPD News:

The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.

Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.

LORETTA B. STUBBS

Dec. 27 at 8:40 p.m. / Police arrested Loretta B. Stubbs, 59, of Los Alamos near Airport Road and Nambe Loop and charged her with DWI and driving with an open container of alcohol.

 

 

STANLEE AVERY PLATERO

Jan. 1 at 4:39 a.m. / Police arrested Stanlee Avery Platero, 19, of Los Alamos at 2500 Trinity Dr. and charged him with aggravated DWI: refusal to submit to Read More

Supreme Court Affirms Use Of Seized Drug Evidence In Trial That Led To Conviction Of Curry County Man

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court today upheld the convictions of a Curry County man on drug trafficking and other offenses, ruling that police lawfully stopped the defendant’s car and seized evidence used to charge and later convict the man.

 

The Court’s unanimous decision reversed a 2017 ruling by the state Court of Appeals, which had overturned Mikel Martinez’s convictions on grounds that police obtained their evidence through an improper investigative stop.

 

The state’s highest court determined that State Police Officer Donald Read More

Attorney General Balderas: Man Accused Of Trafficking His Own Children Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

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Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Monday that James Stewart Sr. was sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections after he was convicted of three counts of human trafficking. 
 
Jurors found that between 2015 and 2018, Stewart Sr. used his three minor children to panhandle around Albuquerque so he could use that money to buy drugs. All three children courageously testified against their father at trial.
 
“Protecting New Mexican children from predators is a top priority,” Balderas said.
Read More

AG Balderas Secures 12 Year Prison Sentence Against Man Who Stole From Life-Savings Of 98 Year Old

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Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced that James Lambros, who stole more than $1 million from the life-savings of a 98-year-old former Albuquerque resident and several thousand dollars from his former friend, was sentenced to 12 years in the Department of Corrections to be followed by five years of probation.
 
He also failed to pay taxes on the amounts that he stole.
 
“Our office will always fight for the most vulnerable, particularly elder New Mexicans who are preyed upon,” Balderas said. “I am grateful
Read More