Courts

FBI: Mescalero Man Charged With 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’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Theodore Ian Chavez, IV appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault of an intimate partner by strangling and assault of an intimate partner resulting in substantial bodily injury.

Chavez, 25, of Dulce, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain on conditions of release pending trial.

According to the indictment, Aug. 6, 2023, Chavez assaulted Jane Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Affirms Murder Convictions

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AOC News:

The New Mexico Supreme Court has issued a decision affirming the convictions of Mark Hice for first-degree murder and other offenses in Rio Arriba County.

The case is State v. Hice, S-1-SC-39211. Click here to read the decision.

The Court has also issued an opinion that upheld the district court’s judgment in State v. Galindo, S-1-SC-38585. The defendant, Ignacio Galindo, was convicted of first-degree murder and other offenses in Otero County. Click here to read the opinion. Read More

FBI: 18-Year-Old Pleads Guilty To Carjacking, Firearms

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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. 14, that Malachi Alan Crockett pled guilty to three counts of carjacking and aiding and abetting and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Crockett, 18, of Albuquerque, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

In his plea agreement, Crockett admitted that March 21, 2023, he and two juvenile accomplices committed three carjackings Read More

Senators Heinrich & Colleagues Announce Amendment Requiring Use Of Supplemental Aid Comply With U.S., International And Armed Conflict Law

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) as well as Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), announced Thursday that they are working on an amendment to require that the weapons received by any country under the proposed national security supplemental are used in accordance with Read More

FBI: Española Trio Face Charges In Relation To String Of Armed Robberies That Led To Shooting Death

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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 Ricky Eddie Martinez, Jr., Adelene Urquijo and Ashley Thompson have been charged in relation to a string of robberies in 2022 that culminated with the Aug. 16 shooting death of a Blake’s Lotaburger employee.

Martinez, 32, of Española is charged with:

  • 3 counts of interference with commerce by robbery;
  • 1 count of interference with commerce by attempted robbery;
  • 2 counts of using, carrying,
Read More

FBI: Man Charged For Double Murder In Taos Pueblo

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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’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Joshua Gonzales made an initial appearance in federal court on an indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder.

Gonzales, 37, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

According to court records, Gonzales and his girlfriend had been staying at the home of John Doe 1. May 30, 2019, Gonzales assaulted his girlfriend while they were Read More

New ‘Justice Stations’ In Northwestern New Mexico To Improve Access To State Courts

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Bailiff Bulmaro Ramirez demonstrates use of the justice station at the Gallup Magistrate Court. Courtesy/Eleventh Judicial District Court

Justice station installed at the Rock Springs Chapter House on the Navajo Nation. Courtesy/Eleventh Judicial District Court

AOC News:

GALLUP – Newly installed “justice stations” on the Navajo Nation and communities in northwestern New Mexico provide virtual access to magistrate court hearings, lessening the need for people to travel to a courthouse.

The justice stations allow the public to use an easy-to-navigate computer to appear remotely in Read More

Council Seeks Letters Of Interest For Probate Judge Vacancy

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Probate Judge Michael Redondo

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Councilors are seeking letters of interest to fill the position of Probate Judge. On Nov.  30, 2023, the Council was informed that the current Judge Michael Redondo would resign effective Feb. 2, 2024. Judge Redondo was elected to the position in the November 2022 General Election.

The County Council is responsible for filling the vacancy left by Redondo’s resignation. Per County Council’s Procedural Rules, the County Manager was asked to advertise for letters of interest, to be submitted for consideration. The successful applicant Read More

New Mexico Governor Renews Executive Orders Around Gun Violence, Substance Misuse 

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Courtesy/GVD

From the Office of the Governor:

  • Renewal keeps public health orders in place

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham renewed executive orders today declaring gun violence and substance misuse public health emergencies. The governor’s multi-pronged strategy is demonstrating progress as area law enforcement agencies continue to work together to address the gun violence epidemic. The renewal extends the emergency to Dec. 29, 2023, ensuring that progress continues. 

In her executive orders, Gov. Lujan Grisham ordered a coordinated response to these public health emergencies involving Read More

Heinrich On Passing Of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

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Former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor:

“Justice O’Connor was a dedicated jurist and public servant, and proudly from the Southwest. As the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor carved a path and set an example for future generations.

“Justice O’Connor brought an unflappable independence to her service on the Court. My thoughts Read More