Courts

FBI: Las Cruces Man Gets Prison For Threatening U.S. Rep.

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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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced Tuesday that Michael David Fox was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine. Fox, 60, of Las Cruces, pleaded guilty to interstate transmission of threatening communication on Sept. 20, 2023.

According to court documents, on May 18, 2023, Fox left a voicemail for the office of a congresswoman for the District of Texas, calling her a “tranny and Read More

FBI: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty To Domestic 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 Patrick Maestas pled guilty to assault of a spouse, intimate partner, and dating partner, by strangling, suffocating, and attempting to strangle and suffocate.

Maestas, 34, of Dulce, and an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to court records, July 8, 2022, Maestas had consumed a large quantity of alcohol Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules Defendant Validly Waived Right To An Attorney Present During Police Interrogation

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New Mexico Supreme Court. File photo

New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled today that police did not violate a defendant’s constitutional rights by interviewing him after he agreed to speak to them without the presence of his court-appointed attorney.

In a unanimous decision, the Court concluded that Eddie Mares “validly waived his Sixth Amendment right to counsel through his waiver of Miranda rights even though he had requested and obtained counsel at his first appearance.”

In his initial appearance before a judge after being arrested on child sex Read More

FBI: Las Cruces Man Gets 5 Years For Cyberstalking And Sending Threatening Messages To His Father And Others

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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 today that John Benjamin Thornton was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Thornton, 42, of Las Cruces, pleaded guilty on Dec. 3, 2021, to a nine-count superseding indictment charging him with cyberstalking and making threats in interstate commerce.

According to court records, Thornton had been the subject of complaints since November 2020 by several people who had received disturbing or threatening messages Read More

NCL Statement On DOT’s Fine Against Southwest Airlines

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NCL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Consumers League (NCL) Monday applauded the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) landmark enforcement action against Southwest Airlines over the company’s operational meltdown during the 2022 holidays.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, NCL’s Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud:

“Today’s DOT action sends an unambiguous signal to the airline industry that passengers’ time is valuable and there will be consequences for carriers that waste it. The unprecedented $140 million fine demonstrates Read More

FBI: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty To Assault With Dangerous Weapon

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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 Nov. 15 that Steven Williams pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Williams, 29, of Dulce and an enrolled member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.

According to court records, between Feb. 11 and Feb. 14, 2023, Williams repeatedly assaulted Jane Doe, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, with a knife, injuring Read More

Erinna M. Atkins Named 2024 State Bar President

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2024 State Bar President Erinna M. Atkins

SBNM News:

SANTA FE — Dec. 6, 2023, the Supreme Court of New Mexico officiated the swearing-in of Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins as President of the State Bar of New Mexico for 2024. In addition to President-Elect Atkins’ swearing-in, Aja N. Brooks was sworn in as the President-Elect and Allison H. Block-Chavez as the Secretary-Treasurer. 

The swearing-in took place at La Fonda in Santa Fe, where many from New Mexico’s legal community gathered alongside the Justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court to celebrate incoming President Atkins. Also in attendance Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules That Warrantless Search Of Car Parked At Owner’s Home Is Unconstitutional

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled today that constitutional protections were violated by a warrantless search of a car parked at the owner’s home after a traffic stop and arrest of the driver.

In a unanimous opinion, the Court concluded that the search was unreasonable based on the facts of the case and prosecutors could not use drug evidence found during an inventory of the car before it was towed and impounded by Farmington police.

Andrew Ontiveros was driving his grandmother’s car when he was stopped by police for a cracked windshield and broken taillight. Read More

NMILC Files Complaint Against Cibola County Correctional Center For Pepper Spray Attack On Immigrants

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NMILC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) filed a complaint against CoreCivic and the Cibola County Correctional Center for its recent pepper spray attack on people held in ICE detention at the facility.

On or around Nov. 18, 2023, several masked CoreCivic officials entered an ICE unit at Cibola and dispersed pepper spray gas in response to a demonstration by five individuals who were protesting inadequate food and water, and growing frustration with their delayed deportations despite having removal orders from several months prior. CoreCivic staff reportedly Read More

New Mexico ‘Presidential Primary Nomination By Committee’ Meets Friday Dec. 22 At Supreme Court In Santa Fe

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Presidential Primary Nomination by Committee meeting will be held in person 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 22, at the New Mexico Supreme Court Courtroom 237, Don Gaspar Ave. in Santa Fe.

The purpose of the meeting is to nominate presidential primary candidates, and certify to the secretary of state the names of all those generally advocated and nationally recognized or supported by any major political party in the state as candidates of the major political parties participating in the 2024 Presidential Primary for the Office of President of the Read More