Courts

FBI: Window Rock Man Sentenced For Abuse

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Window Rock man was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to abusive sexual conduct that occurred 20 years prior. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in 2021, Jane Doe reported that Tom Tso, 85, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, had sexually abused her approximately 20 years earlier when she was between 15 and 17 years old while she was asleep at Tso’s home. Jane Doe stated that she woke up to find Tso’s hand inside her pants. She kicked him away, locked herself in the bathroom, and he tried to unlock the door to Read More

FBI: Tohatchi Man Charged With Second Degree Murder And Federal Firearms Offenses

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Tohatchi man was charged by criminal complaint with second degree murder and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence for the fatal shooting of Jane Doe on the Navajo Reservation.

Augustus Benallie, 51, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and was detained pending a detention hearing, which was scheduled for May 20, 2024.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 12, 2024, the Navajo Police Department received an emergency call regarding a shooting near Tohatchi, New Mexico, within Read More

FBI: Farmington Man Sentenced To 8 Months For Arson

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A federal judge handed down an 8-month prison sentence to a Farmington man who pleaded guilty to burning down a residence in Two Grey Hills, New Mexico, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to publicly available court records, Aug. 28, 2023, Ulrick Bruce Canyon, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, started a fire at the residence by pouring lighter fluid in the bedrooms, lit the fire with a match and threw two propane tanks into the fire. Canyon then left the residence with a wheelbarrow full Read More

New Mexico Foundation For Open Government: Pretrial Supervision Records Are Public Records

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FOG News:

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) agrees with Attorney General Raul Torrez’s assessment that the Second Judicial District Court violated the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) when it failed to provide records to KRQE-TV 13 Reporter Larry Barker and KOB-TV 4 Reporter Ryan Laughlin.

The Court’s denial of the reporters’ requests to inspect records related to GPS alerts and other documents in possession of the Court’s Pretrial Services Division (PTS) jeopardizes the public’s right to access to information regarding PTS, a division of the Court funded through Read More

FOG: Arresting Reporters Violates First Amendment

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New Mexico Foundation of Open Government News:

Editor’s Note: This is in reference to Bryant Furlow, an independent investigative journalist arrested Wednesday during a police action on the University of New Mexico’s main campus to clear a student Gaza solidarity encampment.

The mission of the New Mexico Foundation of Open Government (FOG) includes advocating, educating and litigating to help New Mexicans vindicate their rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Freedom of the press is one of the hallmarks of American democracy and enshrined as one of the five freedoms in the Read More

FBI: Rio Rancho Man Gets 10 Years For Firearms Offenses

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Rio Rancho man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to carjacking and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. This case was adopted from state prosecution in cooperation with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of Jan. 6, 2021, Daniel Pacheco, 31, approached the victim, brandished a firearm, and struck her repeatedly. Pacheco stole the victim’s purse and car keys before fleeing in her vehicle.

The victim’s car was equipped with Read More

Candidates Share Perspectives At League’s 2024 Forum

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A crowd turns out for the League of Women Voters Los Alamos forum Thursday at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

From left, House Dist. 43 Rep. candidate Chris Luchini, Libertarian; incumbent Christine Chandler, Democrat and League President Felicia Orth at Thursday’s forum. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Candidates for House District 43, District Attorney for the First Judicial District and Los Alamos County Council made their case about why they deserve Los Alamos’ votes during the League Read More

NRA Files Legal Challenge To New Mexico Waiting Period

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NRA News:

FAIRFAX, VA – Today, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) filed a lawsuit in the federal district court of New Mexico challenging the State of New Mexico’s new waiting period law, which took effect today. The lawsuit, named Ortega v. Grisham, was filed in coordination with the Mountain States Legal Foundation.

New Mexico’s “Unlawful Sale of a Firearm Before Required Waiting Period Ends Act” requires the purchaser of a firearm to wait seven calendar days before taking possession of the firearm—even if the purchaser immediately passes a background check. While it provides Read More

State Energy Efficiency Law Authorizes Rate Mechanism Separating Utility Revenue From Energy Sales, Supreme Court Rules

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New Mexico Supreme Court New:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled today that state law provides for a rate mechanism that fully decouples or separates a utility’s revenues from its total sales of electricity or natural gas as a way to encourage utilities to promote energy efficiency.

In a unanimous opinion, the state’s highest court annulled and vacated a Public Regulation Commission (PRC) order that the Efficient Use of Energy Act (EUEA) allowed for partial – but not full – revenue decoupling.

The justices analyzed state law and concluded “the Legislature has clearly expressed Read More

FBI: Shiprock Woman Sentenced For Drunk Driving Crash That Killed Her Young Granddaughter

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Shiprock woman was sentenced to five years in prison for a tragic rollover accident in Shiprock, New Mexico which resulted in the death of her young granddaughter and serious injuries to another.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, July 1, 2021, Evelyn Bustamante, 60, drove her grandchildren from Shiprock and Farmington. Neither of the children were properly restrained in seatbelts or car seats. Around 3 p.m., Bustamante lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over and eject all three occupants.

First responders rushed the Read More