Courts

New Mexico State Police Arrest Wanted Felon Found In Possession Of Loaded Firearm

by

NMSP News:

LOS LUNAS—On Nov. 29, 2024, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers received information that Carlos Lynch, 40, wanted for numerous felony warrants, was in the area of the Sonic restaurant in Los Lunas.

NMSP officers arrived at the restaurant and located Lynch inside a vehicle parked at a drive-up stall. Officers activated their emergency lights and ordered Lynch to exit the vehicle.

Lynch drove his vehicle over a curb and began to flee from officers. After a short pursuit, an officer utilized a pursuit intervention technique (P.I.T.) to stop the vehicle. Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill To Offer Relief To Americans Facing Medical Bankruptcy

by

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) reintroduced legislation designed to ease the burden on Americans forced into bankruptcy because of unforeseen medical expenses.

The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2024 reforms the bankruptcy process to alleviate the strain on debtors and make the bankruptcy court system work better for Americans.  

“Far too many families face crippling medical Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea From Woman Involved In Carjacking And Violent Assault Case

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – The second defendant has pleaded guilty in federal court for her role in a violent carjacking incident that took place on the Navajo Nation in May 2022, following the earlier guilty plea of her accomplice.

According to court documents, on May 9, 2022, Lindsey Yazzie and Brandon Barber attacked a woman driving her Jeep on the Navajo Nation. Yazzie threw a large rock at the vehicle’s windshield, forcing the victim to stop.

Yazzie and Barber then violently removed the victim from the vehicle, as Yazzie repeatedly attempted to strike the victim in the head with a rock. Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules District Courts Have Authority To Independently Raise Evidence Issues About Warrantless Searches

by

NMSC News:

SANTA FE — District courts on their own can order hearings to determine whether evidence obtained through a warrantless search by law enforcement will be allowed in a criminal prosecution, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

In a split decision, the Court concluded that a judge in northern New Mexico had the constitutional authority to raise the evidentiary issue by ordering suppression hearings “sua sponte,” meaning on the court’s own initiative without a motion being made by an attorney for the defense or other party.

“For more than one hundred years this Court has recognized Read More

New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association’s 29th Annual Food & Toy Drive Brings Holiday Cheer To Young Patients At UNM Children’s Hospital

by

From left, Andre Archuleta and Isela Anchondo with Curtis & Co. Law Firm and Brooke Jordy with LeBlanc Law. Courtesy/NMTLA

NMTLA News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A smile can brighten even the toughest days, and this holiday season, the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association (NMTLA) aims to bring that joy to young patients and their families. Through their 29th Annual Food & Toy Drive, NMTLA is partnering with the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) Children’s Hospital to deliver holiday magic to children from communities across New Mexico.

With a goal of raising $60,000 by Thanksgiving, the Read More

Community Conversation: Emotional Intelligence For Families – A Collaborative Event Thursday Nov. 21 At SALA

by

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos Public Schools, Los Alamos JJAB, Los Alamos County and Los Alamos Family Council invite families to a special Community Conversation event, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at SALA Event Center.

This free event is designed to support families in building emotional intelligence through open dialogue, shared experiences and connection within the community.

The evening will begin with a complimentary dinner for all attendees. Following the meal, parents will join a guided program on emotional intelligence, including real-life scenarios and tools to foster meaningful Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea Against Pueblo Pintado Man In Fatal Navajo Nation Shooting Case

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Pueblo Pintado man pleaded guilty in federal court to two charges stemming from a fatal shooting incident that occurred on the Navajo Nation in 2022.

According to the plea agreement, May 16, 2022, Rodgerick Tsosie, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, aimed a firearm at an individual seated in the front passenger seat of a moving vehicle during a family altercation.

Tsosie discharged the weapon, but the bullet missed its intended target and instead struck another person in the backseat, resulting in that individual’s death.

Tsosie will remain on conditions Read More

U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI And USMS Target Drug Trafficking Operation Linked To Federal Correctional Facility

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — This week, the FBI Violent Gangs Task Force and U.S. Marshals Service conducted a coordinated operation to dismantle a significant drug trafficking network linked to the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, with the support of the New Mexico State Police.

The operation was part of an ongoing investigation into an intergang conspiracy involving both incarcerated and non-incarcerated gang members.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, search warrants were executed at 13 identified premises across New Mexico, believed to contain evidence related to multiple federal Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Sentencing For 2021 Murder In Church Rock

by

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Smith Lake man was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in federal prison for the 2021 murder of a man in Church Rock.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, May 17, 2021, Josiah Alan Smith, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, arrived at a residence in Church Rock armed with a rifle. Smith made threats against John Doe before briefly leaving the premises. Smith then returned with a revolver and fired two shots through a bedroom window, striking Doe in the back. The bullet pierced Doe’s heart and both lungs, resulting in his death despite Read More

NMSP Arrests Santa Fe Teens For Shooting At Vehicle, Injuring Juvenile

by

NMSP News:

SANTA FE—On Nov. 2, 2024, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau was requested to investigate a shooting involving a 16-year-old victim.

State Police agents learned that on Saturday, Nov. 2, the NMSP Uniform Bureau responded to the 6300 block of Entrada De Milagro in reference to a 16-year-old gunshot victim. Through the investigation, agents learned that at approximately 2 p.m., an 18 and 19 year old were driving to pick up a friend when they noticed a red vehicle following them. They recognized the occupants of that vehicle to be Anthony Cruz Padilla,  Read More