Courts

Students Reported Safe After Unauthorized Man Enters Stage Area Of National Speech And Debate Tournament

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By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Students from Los Alamos and around the world are reported to be safe after an unauthorized man entered the stage area during event activities on Thursday, at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy addressed the incident, saying, “All of our students are safe. I am grateful for the coach, Mr. Poston, and the wonderful chaperones who were with our students. They were able to account for them quickly, make sure parents were notified, and provide support Read More

FBI: Texas Man Charged Federally For Receipt And Transport Of Explosives Intended For Use Against Law Enforcement

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FBI News:

A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing powerful explosives in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during riots in California.

According to court documents, on June 12, 2025, Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, visited a travel center in Lordsburg, New Mexico, to purchase fireworks. During the transaction, Vandenberg requested assistance in selecting fireworks that could be thrown directly at people to cause harm. He told store employees that he was prior special forces military and claimed he could Read More

SBNM’s Access To Justice Fund Grant Commission Sets Record $1.9 Million Of Grant Funds Awarded

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SBNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The State Bar of New Mexico’s Access to Justice Fund Grant Commission (“the Commission”) awarded $1,900,000 in grant funds to 14 civil legal service organizations for the 2025-2026 Fund cycle. Another consecutive record-breaking year, this marks an increase of approximately $400,000 over grant funds issued for the 2024-2025 Fund cycle.

The mission of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Access to Justice Fund Grant Commission is to be the financial steward of the New Mexico Supreme Court’s Fund for Access to Justice. These funds are generated pursuant to Supreme Court rule Read More

FBI: Little Water Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges In Navajo Nation Shooting And Homicide

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Little Water man pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his involvement in a violent April 2024 shooting and subsequent homicide on the Navajo Nation.

According to court records, on April 24, 2024, Dewayne George, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, accompanied Brittania Navaho to a pawn shop in Gallup where she purchased a .22 caliber revolver and ammunition for Rydell Happy, who is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Later that day, the group, joined by John Doe, drove through the Gallup area and encountered a vehicle on U.S. Read More

FBI: Two Charged In ABQ Alien Harboring, Kidnapping Case

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Two men face federal charges for harboring illegal aliens after a kidnapping and human smuggling investigation in Albuquerque.

According to court documents, on March 1, 2025, a complainant told the FBI their spouse had been kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers demanded 90,000 quetzales (about $11,600) and threatened to turn the victim over to the Zeta Cartel if payment was not made. “Proof of life” videos were sent to the family.

Using phone data from the ransom calls, agents traced the location to a residence in southwest Albuquerque. On March 2, agents executed Read More

State Ethics Commission Files Lawsuit Against New Mexico Safety Over Profit

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STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico State Ethics Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against New Mexico Safety Over Profit (“NMSOP”) for violations of the Lobbyist Regulation Act (“LRA”).

NMSOP, a domestic nonprofit organization, spent at least $56,000 in 2024 on advertising aimed at influencing legislation regarding medical malpractice reform, but refused to register its advertising campaign or disclose its sources of funding as required by New Mexico law. The LRA mandates that organizations conducting an advertising campaign for the purpose of lobbying register Read More

NMSP: Man Convicted Of 2023 First-Degree Murder In Artesia

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NMSP News:

ARTESIA – On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau (IB) was requested by the Artesia Police Department (APD) to investigate an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred outside the Artesia Public Safety Complex at 3300 W. Main Street in Artesia.

IB agents from Alamogordo responded to the scene and began their investigation. Initial findings revealed that an APD Sergeant discharged one round from his duty weapon at a male individual, later identified as Acadio Lucero, after observing Lucero actively shooting at another male, Read More

New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s Legal Resources For The Elderly Program Hosting Free Webinar June 24

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New Mexico State Bar News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s Legal Resources for the Elderly Program (“LREP”) will be hosting a free virtual legal webinar starting at 11 a.m. on June 24.

The webinar, which aims to equip attendees with integral financial knowledge, will cover information regarding debt problems, including what happens if a person can’t pay their debts, what actions debt collectors can take, and what actions a person may take if they are sued for a debt they owe.

New Mexico residents can register for this free webinar online or by calling 505.797.6005 and providing Read More

New Mexico Court Education Institute Presents Former UNM Law Professor Barbara Bergman Judicial Education Award

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Law professor Barbara E. Bergman

Administrative Office of the Courts News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Law professor Barbara E. Bergman received an award June 12 honoring her lasting contributions to judicial education in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Court Education Institute (CEI) presented Bergman with the inaugural Rozier E. Sanchez CEI Faculty Award for excellence in judicial education during a ceremony in Albuquerque at the annual training conference for state court judges.

Bergman taught at the University of New Mexico School of Law for 28 years and in 2016 joined the faculty of the James E. Rogers Read More

Two Longtime Attorneys Appointed To New Mexico Public Defender Commission

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NMLOPD News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorneys Sheila Lewis of Santa Fe and Maria Padilla of Albuquerque were sworn in Wednesday to the New Mexico Public Defender Commission, which provides guidance on the administration of the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender (NMLOPD) and selects the state’s chief public defender.

The LOPD employs more than 400 New Mexicans in the service of providing legal representation to indigent people charged with a crime in the state’s courts.

The independent state agency most recently received an $80.2 million budget to operate 13 offices across the state and Read More