Courts

FBI: Mescalero Man Sentenced For 2022 Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A federal judge has handed down a 9-year prison sentence to a Mescalero man after he pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in a case stemming from a brutal attack on the Mescalero Apache reservation in 2022.

Upon his release from prison, Dennett Jerome Chee, 37, a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will be subject to three years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to publicly available court records, May 20, 2022, John Doe was at a friend’s house on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Chee and another man arrived Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Regulator’s Denial Of Renewable Energy Incentive For Electric Utility

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Justice David K. Thomson

New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE —The New Mexico Supreme Court has rejected a utility’s appeal for a financial incentive under a law requiring greater production of electricity from renewable energy sources.

In a unanimous opinion, the Court affirmed the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission’s (PRC) denial of a request by Southwestern Public Service Co. (SPS) in 2021 for a rate rider that would have allowed it to collect an additional $5.2 million from customers over three years for exceeding requirements under the state’s Renewable Energy Act (REA).

The Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Invalidates $10,000 Regulatory Fine Levied During Utility Merger Case

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court today annulled a $10,000 penalty imposed on Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Avangrid, Inc. and its corporate affiliates over the incomplete disclosure of information during regulatory proceedings about their proposed merger.

In a nonprecedential decision, New Mexico’s highest court unanimously concluded that the sanction by the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) was “overbroad and must be vacated”.

The penalty was part of the regulator’s order in 2021 rejecting the merger of PNM, the state’s largest Read More

Lawsuit Against Schools Remanded To District Court

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Staff Report:

Los Alamos resident and parent of a Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) student, Luckie Daniels’ lawsuit against the district was today granted to be remanded to First Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico by District Judge Judith C. Herrera.

According to court documents, the lawsuit was originally filed by Daniels in November at the First Judicial District Court. The defendants, LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy, Assistant Superintendent Carter Payne, School Board President Antonio Jaurigue and board members Melanie Colgan, Sondra Wyman, Ellen Specter and former Read More

NM Cannabis Control Division Recalls Concentrates Sold At Got Greens, Issues Consumer Health, Safety Advisory

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NMRLD News:

SANTA FE — The Cannabis Control Division (CCD) of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department is issuing a consumer health and safety advisory due to the identification of contaminated cannabis concentrates (shatter, dabs, wax, etc.) that tested positive for a prohibited pesticide.

Products subject to this recall were sold to consumers between Jan. 31, 2023, and Feb. 15, 2024, at Got Greens located at 10200 Corrales Rd Ste E2, Albuquerque, NM 87114. The concentrates were sold under the names: Purple Kush Live Sugar, Cali Dream Live Sugar, Jigglers Live Diamonds, and OG Read More

FBI: Crownpoint Woman Gets 30 Months For Involuntary Manslaughter

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced Friday that Ryntana Yazzie was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Yazzie, 34, of Crownpoint, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter Nov. 2, 2023.

According to publicly available court documents, Aug. 4, 2020, Yazzie had been drinking alcohol and was driving south on Highway 371 outside Farmington when her vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and struck a Read More

FBI: Hobbs Man Gets 25 Years For Cyberstalking, Firearms

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge sentenced a Hobbs man to federal prison for cyberstalking Jane Doe and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition which he used to shoot and murder her in 2022.

Guadalupe Antonio Navarrete, 37, of Hobbs was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on Nov. 18, 2022, deputies from the Lea County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Navarrete’s residence in Hobbs following a report of an unwanted subject on the premises. Upon arrival, they Read More

New Mexico State Bar To Host Ask-A-Lawyer Call-In Event

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State Bar News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of New Mexico will be hosting its annual Ask-a-Lawyer Call-In Program telephonically 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 4.

On the day of the program, New Mexican residents can get their legal questions answered for free or receive a referral by calling 1.800.876.6227 and speaking with an attorney or State Bar representative.

Topics may include employment law, divorce, child support, landlord/tenant issues, personal injury, estate planning, real estate and more. If you or someone you know need legal assistance pertaining Read More

FBI: Mescalero Man Gets 4 Years For Federal Officer Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Jeremy Dennis was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Dennis, 43, of Mescalero, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pled guilty to assault on a federal officer in Indian Country June 26, 2023.

According to publicly available court documents, shortly after 10 p.m., Dec. 25, 2022, an officer from the Bureau of Indian Affairs responded to the Dennis’ residence on the Mescalero Apache reservation Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court To Hear Case In Albuquerque As Part Of Educational Program

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – Students will have an opportunity to watch an oral argument on a case involving a public school when the New Mexico Supreme Court convenes in Albuquerque next month for a program to help young people learn about the law and courts.

The argument on April 29 at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) represents the fourth year for the Court’s Rule of Law Program. The Court will convene at 10 a.m. in Smith Brasher Hall. Students may attend in person or watch virtually through a live stream of the proceeding. A Spanish translation of the live stream will be available. Read More