Courts

Balderas Wins Historic Public Lands Victory On Behalf Of New Mexicans, Granting Access To 50,000+ Acres

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Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
From the Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas News:
 
ALBUQEURQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas has announced a major court victory on behalf of millions of New Mexicans, granting them access to thousands of acres of public lands in Northern New Mexico, near White Peak, much of which had previously been blocked off by a landowner.
 
“Access to and use of our state’s public lands is a crucial part of the cultural heritage of New Mexicans,” Balderas said. “New Mexicans have hunted, fished, camped and spent time on our public lands near
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Pearce Calls On District Attorney For Taos County To Resign For Failure To Protect Children And Community

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce
 
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Steve Pearce, candidate for Governor, Thursday called for the District Attorney for Taos County to resign for failing to do his job:
 
“If we are going to fix New Mexico’s crime problem, public officials must do their jobs. The Taos District Attorney failed to do so, leading to the Taos suspects’ release. Today, I am calling on him to resign immediately. There must be accountability when officials fail the public. The state and the nation are outraged by this incompetence.”
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Los Alamos Police Blotter: Aug. 16 To Aug. 27, 2018

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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.

TROY A. MARTINEZ

Aug. 16 at 6:25 p.m. / Police arrested Troy A. Martinez, 23, of Santa Fe at 2500 Trinity Dr., and charged him with shoplifting and two outstanding Magistrate Court warrants.

 

 

GUSTAVO SALAIZ

Aug. 16 at 7:32 p.m. / Police arrested Gustavo Salaiz, 19, of Los Alamos at 2500 Trinity Dr., on a Municipal Court order of commitment.

 

 

TAMARA L. TORRES Read More

State Supreme Court Rules Man Convicted Of Racketeering Can Be Prosecuted For Murder

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Matias Loza
 
NMSC News:
 
SANTA FE ― A man convicted of racketeering can be separately prosecuted for murder and other offenses that served as a basis for the racketeering conviction in southern New Mexico, the state Supreme Court has ruled.
 
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court said federal and state constitutional protections against double jeopardy do not prohibit the prosecution of Matias Loza for first-degree murder, arson and bribery of a police officer. Loza was indicted on those and other charges for the killing of Richard Valdez near Alamogordo in November
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FBI: Former NM Taxation And Revenue Employee Gets 46 Months For Federal Extortion Conviction

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FBI News:

  • Defendant also Ordered to Pay $43,380 in Restitution

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez sentenced Larry Mendoza, a former Revenue Agent of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, to 46 months of imprisonment for his conviction on Hobbs Act extortion charges in federal court today in Santa Fe. 

Mendoza will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence. Judge Vazquez also ordered Mendoza to pay $43,380 in restitution.

In announcing Mendoza’s sentence, U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson said, “Public employees violate a sacred Read More

AG On Federal Intervention In Taos Compound Case

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From the Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas:

ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas issued the following statement following the arrest by the FBI of the five people from the compound in Taos:

We are relieved that these dangerous individuals will finally be held in custody after federal entities stepped in because of inexplicable dismissals of the cases.

I strongly believe that First Degree Child Abuse Resulting in Death should be a top priority for our State and justice for Abdul-Ghani What must be sought for the horrific loss of life of a 3-year-old child. Read More

Michelle Lujan Grisham On FBI Arrests And Federal Charges In Amalia Compound Case In Taos

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

STATE News:

This afternoon, U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement regarding the arrests and federal charges filed against the five suspects in the Amalia compound case in Taos:

“I am thankful the Amalia suspects have been arrested and charged by the FBI and I look forward to the swift pursuit of justice and the continued protection of the innocent child victims.” Read More

RBG Comes To Los Alamos 4 p.m. Today!

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Courtesy image
 
By Nina Thayer
AAUW-Los Alamos

The wonderful new documentary “RBG” about the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is showing this week at the Reel Deal Theater.

Jim O’Donnell, Director of Operations, has offered the American Association of University Women a free showing, open to the public, at which all ticket sales will be given to AAUW’s Legal Advocacy Fund.

This very special showing is 4 p.m. today – Aug. 30.

The Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) is the arm of AAUW providing financial aid and legal advice to women seeking legal redress for sexual discrimination in higher Read More

FBI: Owner Of Old Town Albuquerque Jewelry Stores Sentenced For Selling Filipino-Made Jewelry As Native American-Made

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FBI News:

  • Conviction under Continuing International Investigation Led by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI into Violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. District Judge Judith C. Herrera of the District of New Mexico today sentenced Nael Ali, 54, of Albuquerque for violating the Indian Arts and Craft Act (IACA) by fraudulently selling counterfeit Native American jewelry as Indian-Made. 

Judge Herrera sentenced Ali, who previously pled guilty to two felony IACA charges, to six months of imprisonment followed by a year of supervised release. Ali also was ordered

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AG Hector Balderas Indicts Rio Rancho Convicted Serial Child Predator On New Charges

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Edward Cebada
 
From the Attorney General’s Office:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Wednesday that he has indicted Edward Cebada, a convicted felon and registered sex offender on new charges of rape of a child.

A grand jury charged Cebada Thursday with multiple counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Aggravated Battery.

“As Attorney General, I’m disgusted and angered that a convicted sex offender is alleged to have harmed another child in our community,” Balderas said. “I will aggressively
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