Courts

Santa Fe Cardiologist Pleads Guilty To Federal Health Care Fraud Charge

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FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Roy G. Heilbron, 53, a cardiologist practicing in Santa Fe, pleaded guilty Feb. 17 in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a health care fraud charge, announced U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.
 
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Heilbron will be sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.
 
Heilbron was charged with health care fraud and wire fraud charges in a 24-count indictment that was filed
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Las Cruces Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing; Defrauding Department Of Veterans Affairs

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FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Donah E. Davison, 54, of Las Cruces pled guilty Feb.15 in federal court to theft of government property and forgery charges arising out of a scheme to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
 
Davison was charged on Nov. 9, 2016, in a 36-count indictment. The first 27 counts of the indictment charged Davison with embezzling money belonging to the VA by depositing 27 “surviving-spouse” benefit checks to which she was not entitled into her own bank account. Davison was charged with committing these crimes in Dona Ana County, between December
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HB 261 – Additional Funding For Courts Becomes Law

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New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has announced that the following legislation has been signed into law:

Signed House Bill 261 – Additional Funding for Courts [MESSAGE]

“I spent most of my career in courtrooms as a prosecutor,” Martinez said. “I’ve seen firsthand just how important it is to fund our courts. I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made with this legislation. It’s always important – and even more so during a budget crisis – that every dollar of government spending be accounted for.”

House Bill 261 funds the courts to address their budget Read More

Los Alamos County Judge Alan Kirk And Rep.Stephanie Garcia Richard Team Up To Pass Courts Bill

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Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos speaks on the House floor last week in santa Fe as Los Alamos Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk looks on. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

House Bill 110, sponsored by Los Alamos legislator, Stephanie Garcia Richard, successfully passed the House floor in a unanimous vote last week.

A bill developed by the Association of Municipal Judges, HB 110, seeks to allow municipal bench warrants to be served in adjacent counties. Los Alamos Municipal Judge Alan Kirk, current president of the Association was the expert witness on the bill for Rep. Garcia Richard. He testified Read More

Preventing Crime Through Voluntary Home Visits

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FIGHTCRIME.ORG News:

  • New Mexico report shows unique value of home visiting programs

ALBUQEURQUE — On behalf of the 70 New Mexico members of the national anti-crime organization, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden E. Eden, Jr., Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace and 13th Judicial District Attorney Lemuel Martinez have released a state-specific report, Preventing Crime Through Voluntary Home Visiting.

Joined by New Mexico Parents as Teachers, the law enforcement leaders discussed how voluntary home visiting helps reduce rates of child abuse and neglect, Read More

Judge Sentences Christopher Davis Of White Rock

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Christopher W. Davis

 

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

First Judicial District Court Judge Mary L. Marlowe Sommer accepted a plea agreement Feb. 17 for Christopher Davis of White Rock on charges of sexual offenses against minors.

Davis, 25, was arrested Jan. 26 by Los Alamos police on an outstanding warrant from the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General involving charges of alleged sexual offenses against children in two states.

The plea agreement lists charges against Davis as follows:

  • Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4: Criminal sexual penetration of a minor child, 13-16;
  • Count 5:
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Governor Signs Emergency Funding For Courts

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STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law House Bill 261 sponsored by Rep. Nate Gentry (R-Bernalillo) and Rep. Zachary Cook (R-Lincoln and Otero), House Speaker Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) and Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo).

The new law appropriates critical emergency funding for New Mexico’s judiciary system by providing $80,000 to the Supreme Court and $1.6 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Jury and Witness fund to prevent anticipated FY 2017 budget shortfalls in those entities.

“Justice Charles Daniels alerted us to the grave funding situation Read More

Bipartisan Compromise To Fund New Mexico Courts Goes To Governor For Action

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STATE News:

SANTA FE – Wednesday evening, the House of Representatives concurred with a Senate-amended proposal to provide emergency funding to New Mexico’s judiciary branch.

House Bill 261, as amended by the Senate, makes supplemental appropriations for the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). It will provide $80,000 to the Supreme Court to help meet a projected $82,600 shortfall in its current year budget, and it gives $1.6 million to the AOC to pay for jury and witness fees as well as other operational needs. The bill is sponsored Reps. Nate Gentry (R-Bernalillo) Read More

Secure Online Access To Court Records By March 31

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COURT News:

SANTA FE – Attorneys and their staff, justice partners such as law enforcement agencies, and the press will have secure online case access to court records by March 31 under an order approved Monday by the New Mexico Supreme Court.

An application process begins immediately for potentially eligible users to obtain login credentials necessary for the Secured Odyssey Public Access (SOPA) system. Applications, the Supreme Court order and the new online case access policy can be found at:  https:////www.nmcourts.gov/ public-access-help.aspx.

The new online system will Read More

Senate Committee Approves Bipartisan Compromise To Fund New Mexico Courts

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Senate Finance Committee has approved a bipartisan proposal to provide emergency funding to New Mexico’s judiciary branch.
 
The committee agreed to send Feb. 16 an amended version of House Bill 261 to the full Senate. The bill, sponsored Reps. Nate Gentry (R-Bernalillo) and Zachary Cook (R-Lincoln and Otero), makes supplemental appropriations for the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
 
It will provide $80,000 to the Supreme Court to help meet a projected $82,600 shortfall in its current year budget,
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