Courts

Free Program Helps Self-Represented Litigants And Jurors Complete Court-Required Forms

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Jury Division Supervisor Isabell Walla provides scribing services to Heinrich Wiebe in December at the Ninth Judicial District courthouse in Clovis. Courtesy/Ninth Judicial District Court

NMSC News:

SANTA FE — People representing themselves in a court case and any juror can receive help filling out court forms under a program the Judiciary has expanded across New Mexico.

State courts in all 33 counties offer scribing services to any self-represented litigants and to people summoned to jury duty who need help in completing their juror questionnaire. Trained court employees read the form Read More

U.S. Attorney’s Office And FBI Investigate Man In Vanderwagen Suspected Of Child Abuse … If Convicted Faces 20 Years

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The U.S. Attorney’s Office And FBI are investigating allegations of child sexual abuse involving a minor against a man in Vanderwagen, N.M.

Nolin Leupp, 26, appeared before a federal judge and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled, on charges of receiving child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Dec. 8, 2024, a witness reported a suspected sexual assault involving Leupp and a minor victim. The witness further disclosed concerning communications between Leupp and the victim, including Snapchat messages Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Secures Funding For Mobile Air Monitoring Lab From Legal Settlement

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NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is enhancing its ability to monitor air quality with a new mobile air monitoring lab, funded by a $500,000 legal settlement between conservation group WildEarth Guardians and OXY USA Inc., one of the largest oil and gas producers in the country.

The funding will allow NMED to purchase the lab, equip it with supplies, and cover start-up costs, including personnel and operational needs.

The mobile lab will be able to test air quality and weather conditions in real time in the Permian Basin, a region that produces nearly 40% of the Read More

Luján Applauds Signing Of Historic Bill To Protect Children

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From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) applauds President Biden on signing into law the Native American Child Protection Act and Jenna Quin’s Law, two historic pieces of legislation that will help protect children in New Mexico and across the nation.

The Native American Child Protection Act, introduced by Senators Luján and Susan Collins (R-Maine), reauthorizes and reforms three critical programs to ensure that Tribes have the necessary tools to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute cases of child abuse and neglect. U.S. Read More

NMSP: Man Shot After Argument At Family Health Center

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NMSP News:

New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau agents were called Dec. 30, 2024, to 1302 East Main Street, Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari, to investigate a shooting.

Agents learned that around 4:10 p.m., a call came into 911 where a female stated her husband was shot. Investigators learned that Anthony Kent, 56, was arguing with another male in the parking lot of the health center when the argument escalated.

At some point during the argument, Kent brandished a firearm and discharged multiple rounds. The male’s wife exited the health center after hearing the Read More

Governor Announces Judicial Appointment Of Bryan Fox

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Newly appointed Second Judicial District Court Judge Bryan Fox

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced the appointment of Bryan Fox as a Second Judicial District Court judge.

Fox’s appointment follows the retirement of the Honorable Gerard J. Lavelle.

Fox is a welcome addition to the family court bench with nearly 30 years of practice in family law. Fox is a graduate of UNM School of Law. He was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 1996.

His appointment commenced Dec. 21, 2024.

About the Second Judicial District Court:

The court is in Bernalillo County in Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures 21 Month Prison Sentence Of Zuni Man For Violent Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Zuni man was sentenced in federal court to 21 months in prison for a violent assault that left a fellow tribal member with severe injuries.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Jan. 25, 2023, Zuni Police Department (ZPD) officers responded to a report of an assault near a road within the Zuni Pueblo. They found the victim, John Doe, lying in the road, bleeding heavily from the head and facial area. Witnesses reported that the assailants had fled the scene in a pick-up truck.

John Doe suffered severe injuries that required hospitalization Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea From Albuquerque Man For Production Of Child Abuse Materials

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Kevin Vallo faces up to 25 years in prison.

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque man pleaded guilty to federal charges of production of child sexual abuse materials, admitting to creating illicit content and using social media to lure minors for sexual exploitation.

According to court documents, Kevin Vallo, 40, used the social media messaging app Telegram to communicate with a 13-year-old victim. Vallo created multiple profiles on Telegram under different names and personas, misrepresenting his age as 16 when he was actually 39 years old.

Vallo admitted to engaging in sexually explicit Read More

U.S. Attorney’s Office & FBI On Second Superseding Indictment Against Serial Murderer Labar Tsethlikai Of Zuni Pueblo

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Federal prosecutors have filed six additional charges against Labar Tsethlikai for kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon.

The additional charges are part of a larger series of violent crimes committed by Tsethlikai against Native American men across New Mexico between 2022 and 2024.

The added charges correspond to five additional victims.

Tsethlikai, 51, an enrolled Member of Zuni Pueblo, now faces a 17-count second superseding indictment charging him with five additional counts of kidnapping and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon as follows: Read More

Supreme Court Justice And District Judge: Healthy Communities Are Rooted In Meaningful Access To Affordable Civil Legal Services

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Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon

By New Mexico Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon
and District Judge Erin B. O’Connell, chair of the New Mexico Commission on Access to Justice

Three out of four low-income households in New Mexico struggle with legal issues impacting basic needs like housing, financial stability, access to social and medical benefits.

New Mexico’s civil legal service providers handle thousands of cases every year, but a lack of capacity caused them to turn away more than half of the people seeking help last year.

The New Mexico Commission on Access to Justice works Read More