Courts

FBI: Woman Gets 366 Days For Stealing From Jemez Pueblo

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque woman was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison and ordered to pay restitution to the Pueblo of Jemez for stealing almost $400,000.00 to fund her gambling habit.

According to court documents, Beverly Scott, 48 worked as an Accounts Payable Clerk for the Pueblo of Jemez between 2014 and 2020. Part of Scott’s job was to generate checks to pay vendors for legitimate services rendered. Scott realized that she could go into the accounting system and change the name and address of any vendor with an outstanding invoice to her own name and address. She would Read More

$100,000 Awarded In Unpaid Wages In Case Settlement

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NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) Office of the General Counsel announce a successful court settlement against 505 Burgers Farmington LLC in the amount of $100,000 for violations of New Mexico’s wage statutes.

Former employees, Francisco and Sandra Olivas filed wage claims with the Department’s Labor Relations Division in 2017 claiming combined they had worked 1,680 straight-time and nearly 1,762 overtime hours only to have a small portion of hourly wages received.

“We strive to provide education and training to businesses to ensure that Read More

Los Alamos Municipal Court To Host Law Day Open House

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Los Alamos Municipal Court staff from left, Adrienne Orozco, Sara Martinez, Monica Schwiner, Judge Elizabeth Allen, Juanita McNiel and Lauren Tomko. Courtesy/LAC

COURT News:

Los Alamos Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Allen and her staff invite the public to an open house to celebrate Law Day, a national day set aside to honor the rule of law. 

Visitors may drop in between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at the Municipal Justice Center, 2500 Trinity Drive to enjoy treats, tour the courthouse and learn about the various services and resources.

The court provides both in-person and online Read More

FBI: Mescalero Man Gets 41 Months For Domestic Violence

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Mescalero man was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to assault of an intimate partner resulting in substantial bodily injury.

According to court documents, Oct. 4, 2022, Jaydyn Diamond Lester, 20, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted his intimate partner by shooting her repeatedly with a BB gun and then striking her in the head several times with the butt end of the BB gun when she tried to leave the residence.

As a result of the assault, the victim suffered bruising and a large eight-centimeter laceration to her head, requiring Read More

David K. Thomson Becomes 43rd Person Since Statehood To Serve As Chief Justice Of New Mexico Supreme Court

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Chief Justice David K. Thomson takes the oath of office with his wife Patty and daughter Ava at his side. Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon administered the oath. Courtesy/Administrative Office of the Courts

NMSC News:

SANTA FE — Justice David K. Thomson has been sworn in as Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.

The justice was elected to the position by his colleagues on the five-member court and will serve a two-year term. He succeeds Justice C. Shannon Bacon, who has served as Chief Justice since 2022. 

“I am honored and privileged to assume the leadership of the state’s judicial branch of Read More

New Mexico State Police Crime Scene Team’s Expert Testimony Contributes To Guilty Verdict In Fort Sumner Double Homicide

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New Mexico State Police. Courtesy/NMSP

NMSP News:

On Oct. 2, 2022, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Crime Scene Team (CST) assisted DeBaca County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation of a double homicide at a residence in Ft. Sumner. The residence was owned by Kelby Randolph. A married couple that resided with Randolph were killed inside this residence with a firearm.

Multiple CST Agents responded to this scene and served a search warrant for items related to the double homicide. They documented the scene with photography and a 3D Laser Scanner. The NMSP CST Agents identified and collected Read More