Courts

AG: Brutal Rapist Gets 36 Years Behind Bars

by

Joseph Apodaca to spend 36 years in prison. Courtesy photo

From the Office of the Attorney General:

—Victim Left For Dead in Parking Lot

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Joseph Apodaca was sentenced to 36 years in prison for the extremely violent rape of a young woman he left for dead in Valencia County in 2014.

The victim almost died and will suffer medical issues for the rest of her life due to the brutal rape. In November, Apodaca was convicted on two counts of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree, and one count of tampering with evidence following Read More

Confusion Rocks Vicious Dogs Case

by

LAPD Animal Control Officers Robert Aragon and Alisa Lenderman chat with Krishna Picard, attorney for the Mauro family prior to Monday’s court hearing. Photo by Maire O”Neill/losalamosdailypost.com
 
Leslie Sherman, right, awaits her Magistrate Court hearing Monday. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
 
By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Confusion was the order of the day in Los Alamos Magistrate Court Monday during a hearing for Leslie Sherman of White Rock. She was charged with two counts of keeping an animal known to be vicious and likely Read More

Local Police Corporal Remains On Desk Duty

by

Los Alamos Police Cpl. Jack Casias

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos

Los Alamos Police Cpl. Jack Casias remains on desk duty almost seven months after an incident involving a fellow officer resulted in injuries to his arm, wrist and hand. He has been assigned to administrative duties for the department since the incident, which was investigated by New Mexico State Police (NMSP) at Chief Dino Sgambellone’s request.

Los Alamos Police Cdr. Preston Ballew

A tort claim notice filed Nov. 14, 2016 against LAPD and Cdr. Preston Ballew asserts that Ballew intentionally battered him during the incident. Read More

Bill Provides First In Nation Funding Mechanism

by

HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:
 
SANTA FE ― House Bill 536 was chaptered into law last week, creating a first-in-the-nation mechanism to allow New Mexicans to donate a portion of their tax returns to pay for the testing of sexual assault evidence kits in the state.
 
According to the Office of the State Auditor, as of November 2016, there is an estimated backlog of 5,400 untested rape kits throughout the state of New Mexico. Testing each kit costs as much as $1,000, money which the state and some municipal governments do not have enough of to address their backlog.
 
“We have a big problem
Read More

Probate Judge, County Clerk Proposed Budgets Get Council’s Tentative Approval

by

County Clerk Naomi Maestas, left, and Chief Deputy Clerk Adrianna Ortiz present their office’s $602,603 proposed budget to County Council Monday night in Council Chambers. Council voted 7-0 to tentatively approve the County Clerk’s budget. In her presentation, Maestas reported that voter turnout for recent elections has been high. In fact, there was a 77 percent voter turnout for the November general election. ‘We were the highest in the state,’ she said. Maestas and Ortiz also presented the Probate Judge Anne Nobile’s budget, which totals Read More

Update On Shoplifting Incident At Bealls

by

Stephanie Garcia

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

A second suspect involved in a March 9 shoplifting incident, which ended with a local man being struck by a vehicle outside Bealls Department Store in the Mari-Mac Shopping Center is now in custody at the Los Alamos Detention Center.

LAPD Cdr. Preston Ballew confirmed Thursday, April 13, that Stephanie Garcia, 31, of Espanola, was picked up Tuesday night in Santa Fe.

The man injured in the incident sustained a broken nose. He told police he ran out the door of the store to attempt to get the license plate number of the vehicle, but because the Read More

Adrian Taylor Pleads Not Guilty To Violation Of Conditions Of Pretrial Probation

by

Adrian Taylor leaving the First Judicial District Court Friday in Santa Fe. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com​

 

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Adrian Taylor pleaded not guilty Friday, April 14, to violation of conditions of pretrial probation before First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommers in Santa Fe and was returned to the Los Alamos Detention Center.

Taylor’s alleged violation stems from a March 25 arrest in which he was charged with a fourth offense driving under the influence in Los Alamos. His conditional release was on a District Court case that combined Read More

Deputy DA Files Response In Scott Mallory Case

by

Scott Mallory of Los Alamos, right, leaves the courtroom April 3 with Assistant District Attorney Kent Wahlquist following his pre-trial status hearing in District Court in Santa Fe. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost​

 

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Deputy District Attorney Kent Wahlquist has filed a response in First Judicial District Court to an attempt to suppress a charge of sexual exploitation of children – possession charge against Scott Mallory.

Mallory’s attorney Christopher C. Marlowe filed an intent to invoke spousal privilege April 3. Mallory’s affidavit said Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Faces 25 Years To Life On Federal Bank Robbery Charges Under ‘Worst Of The Worst’ Initiative

by

FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― A U.S. Magistrate Judge in Albuquerque April 19 found probable cause to support a criminal complaint charging Isaac Joseph Dodge, 41, of Albuquerque, with armed bank robbery offenses.
 
During the proceedings, Dodge waived his right to a detention hearing and was ordered to remain in custody pending trial.
 
Dodge was arrested April 13, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with committing two armed bank robberies in Bernalillo County. The complaint alleges that Dodge robbed the BBVA Compass Bank March 7, 2017 at 1201 San Pedro Drive
Read More

Council Tentatively Approves Municipal Court Budget

by

Judge Alan Kirk and Administrative Assistant Juanita McNiel present the proposed budget for Los Alamos County Municipal Court during the budget hearings Monday night in Council Chambers. Council passed 7-0  to tentatively approved the base budget, which totals $564,832. They also approved an additional $9,000 to increase a 3/4 time clerk position to a fulltime position and approved removing $20,000 from the budget and allocating those funds to the Los Alamos Police Department for courtroom security. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More