Courts

LAPD Swears In New Officer

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Los Alamos Police Department’s newest recruit, Ofc. Emmanuel Rodriguez and his fiancee Ariana Vigil following his swearing in ceremony this morning in Los Alamos Magistrate Court. Rodriguez has a degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas-El Paso and is a five-year veteran of the New Mexico State Patrol. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Magistrate Judge Pat Casados administers the oath of office for Los Alamos Police Ofc. Emmanuel Rodriguez this morning as his fiancee Ariana Vigil looks on. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Celebrating Read More

Jury Orders Zia Credit Union To Pay Former Employee $1.5 Million

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By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Zia Credit Union will pay $1.5 million to a former 20-year employee under a verdict handed down by a Santa Fe jury in a case involving a 1.3-acre piece of property in Pojoaque.

The case was originally filed in 2015 by Edwin Ortiz against Zia alleging wrongful discharge and defamation. Ortiz was hired by Zia in 1990 and worked his way up to senior vice president. He inherited the Pojoaque property from his parents.

The lawsuit alleged that beginning in 2005, Zia management and board of directors considered expanding the field of membership into Pojoaque Valley

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Documents Detail Discrimination Suit Against County

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By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Documents make public the specific allegations of a suit filed in October, in First Judicial District Court, against Los Alamos County by a procurement department employee under the Fair Pay for Women Act (FPWA).

The documents include the findings of the Human Rights Bureau (HRB) of the Department of Workforce Solutions Labor Solutions Division.

Lillie Martinez, a buyer/planner for the County, originally filed a charge of discrimination with the HRB in July 2016, alleging that she had been employed by the County for almost 16 years and had learned through

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FBI: Las Cruces Man Pleads Guilty To Meth Trafficking

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FBI News:

 

ALBUQUERQUE – Gilberto Garcia, 42, of Las Cruces, pled guilty this morning in federal court to a methamphetamine trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

 

Garcia was arrested in Oct. 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to the complaint, law enforcement officers seized approximately 128 gross grams of methamphetamine from Garcia’s vehicle following a routine traffic stop May 10, 2017, in Dona Ana County, N.M.

 

During today’s proceedings,

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Los Alamos Police Blotter: Jan. 17 To Jan. 23, 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.

JESSE DANIEL CURRIE

Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. / Police arrested Jesse Daniel Currie, 21, of Jemez Springs at 2500 Trinity Dr., on an outstanding Magistrate Court warrant.

 

 

 

KEVIN MEDINGER

Jan. 18 at 10:44 a.m. / Police arrested Kevin Medinger, 32, of Los Alamos at 2500 Trinity Dr., on an outstanding Magistrate Court warrant and charged him with aggravated burglary, receiving Read More

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas Files Lawsuits Against Non-Compliant Charities

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE – Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today that the Office of the Attorney General filed the first of his lawsuits against charities across the state who have failed to come into compliance in their registration and reporting as required by the Charitable Solicitations Act.

Today’s six lawsuits are the next step in the Charities Compliance Sweep, which began in December of 2017.

“New Mexicans who open their hearts and wallets deserve to know how their hard-earned money is being spent by a charity,” Read More

Udall, Heinrich, Pearce Seek Applicants To Fill Two Upcoming Vacancies On US District Court

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COURT News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Nov. 30, 2017, the Honorable Robert C. Brack announced his intention to assume senior status after 15 years of distinguished service on the federal bench. Judge Brack’s announcement, effective July 25, 2018, will create a vacancy in Las Cruces for a U.S. District Judge for the District of New Mexico.
 
On Dec. 26, 2017, the Honorable Christina Armijo announced her intention to assume senior status after 16 years of distinguished service on the federal bench, including more than five years as Chief Judge for the District. Judge Armijo’s announcement,
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House Republicans Introduce Bill To Increase Sentences For Crimes Committed While Awaiting Trial

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LEGISLATIVE News:
 
SANTA FE — State Representatives Greg Nibert (R-Roswell), Bill Rehm (R-Albuquerque), and Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) have introduced legislation to enhance sentences for offenders who commit a crime while awaiting trial, serving parole or probation. 
 
House Bill 91 would increase sentences up to an additional five years for defendants convicted of a felony if the person committed the felony while awaiting trial or while serving probation or parole. The bill would also increase
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Court Hearing Held On O’Leary Emails

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Los Alamos County Attorney Alvin Leaphart, right, and Attorney Tony F. Ortiz who is representing the Los Alamos County Council in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Inspection of Public Records Act filed by former Los Alamos resident Patrick Brenner. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Attorney Blair Dunn, left, and his client Patrick Brenner await a hearing Friday afternoon in Brenner’s case against the Los Alamos County Council. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

 
By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

First Judicial District Read More

David Rael Appeals Nine-Year Sentence

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By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post
maire@ladailypost.com

A 40-year-old Los Alamos man has filed a notice of appeal of a nine-year prison sentence handed down Nov. 1 by First Judicial District Chief Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer.

David Rael was convicted of three counts of sexual exploitation of children following a non-jury trial last June. The State had requested a 15-year sentence.

In June 2013, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was investigating the sharing of online pornography when he identified Rael’s computer as a potential source for at least six files of interest. Read More