Courts

Los Alamos High School Students Maximus Posada And Luke Favorite Attend 2023 Model International Criminal Court In Poland

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Maximus Posada as Presiding Judge. Courtesy/Enrique Posada

Luke Favorite as Defense Attorney. Courtesy/Enrique Posada

By ENRIQUE POSADA, DDS, FICOI
Los Alamos

Los Alamos High School seniors Maximus Posada and Luke Favorite were two out of eight students selected to represent the United States this November at the 2023 Model International Criminal Court (MICC) in Krzyzowa, Poland.

This 11-day program is sponsored by New Mexico Human Rights Projects which has been providing this life-changing opportunity to high school students since 2013. This 10-year anniversary was special as the Read More

LAPD Files Petty Misdemeanor Charges Against Sheriff, Coaches

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By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Having concluded its investigation into alleged drinking at a team bonding event at Los Alamos High School (LAHS) in August, the Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) filed petty misdemeanor charges Thursday against the Los Alamos County Sheriff and three LAHS volleyball coaches.

LAPD Cmdr. Daniel Roberts confirmed this morning that LAPD has filed petty misdemeanor charges, with the approval of the District Attorney’s Office, against Sheriff Jason Wardlow-Herrera, Head Coach Joseph Palmer, Assistant Head Coach Natalie Read More

FBI: Ryntana Yazzie Of Crownpoint Pleads Guilty To 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 today that Ryntana Yazzie pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Yazzie, 34, of Crownpoint, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was placed on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

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

Court Mourns Passing Of Judge Curtis Leroy Hansen

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The Judges and staff of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico mourn the loss of Senior United States District Judge Curtis LeRoy Hansen, who passed away Oct. 27, 2023, at the age of 90.

“We were privileged to work with and know this exemplary man and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.” –the Court said.

Judge Hansen was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to fill a vacancy on the United States District Court in March of 1992 and his nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate in September of 1992. Judge Hansen Read More

FBI: Malcolm Torres Gets 35 Years For Killing Stepdaughter

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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 Tuesday that, per the terms of his plea agreement, Malcom Torres was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Torres, 30, of Española pled guilty to second degree murder April 10, 2023.

According to court records, Sept. 7, 2019, Torres was home with his 5-year-old stepdaughter, Renezmae Calzada, and 18-month-old son. Torres had been drinking excessive amounts of alcohol that day and during the preceding week Read More

New Mexico Securities Division, CFTC, 29 Other State Regulators Reach Settlement With Dealer Safeguard Metals

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NMRLD News:

SANTA FE — The Securities Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department (NMRLD), in partnership with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and 29 other state regulators, announced this week that they have reached a settlement with the precious metals dealer Safeguard Metals LLC and Jeffrey Ikahn following a February 2022 federal lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

The lawsuit alleged that Safeguard and Ikahn engaged in a $68 million fraudulent scheme that targeted the elderly.

A key finding Read More

FBI: Federal Jury Convicts 4 Taos County Compound Defendants In Connection With Kidnapping & Terrorism Plot

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FBI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, his sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Subhanah’s husband, Lucas Morton, following a three week jury trial.

The jury convicted Siraj Wahhaj and Lucas Morton of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States.

Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj and Lucas Morton were additionally convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death.

In a plea agreement which Read More

FBI: Robert Benjamin Nelson Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Attempted Murder Of Federal Task Force Officer

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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 Oct. 11, that Robert Benjamin Nelson was sentenced to 30 years in prison. 

Nelson, 31, of Scottsdale, Ariz., pled guilty to attempted murder of a federal task force officer and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence March 22, 2023, following a mistrial Jan. 17, 2023.

According to court documents, Sept. 12, 2020, a New Mexico State Police Officer, serving as a Task Force Officer with U.S. Read More

New Mexico State Police Partner With First Judicial DA’s Office, Corrections Department To Capture 9 Absconders

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NMSP News:

Oct. 18, 2023, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Uniform and Investigations Bureau in Española teamed up with the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office to assist the New Mexico Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole (APPO), and Security Threat Intelligence Unit (STIU) locate wanted absconders.

Three teams consisting of personnel from each agency were created and deployed to the communities of Abiquiu, Alcalde, Arroyo Seco, Chamita, Chimayo, Dixon, El Rito, Española, Hernandez, Medanales and Santa Cruz.

The overall goal was a collaboration effort by law Read More

FBI: Xavier Zamora Gets 22 Years For Murdering Letter Carrier

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico and Dominique Giroux, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced Wednesday that Xavier Zamora was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier José Hernandez in 2019.

Zamora, 21, of Albuquerque, pled guilty June 8, 2022, to second degree murder of an employee of the United States and using Read More