Courts

LAHS Graduate Serves On Jury For Gwyneth Paltrow Trial

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LAHS graduate Frances Laurent with fellow juror during the Gwyneth Paltrow and Terry Sanderson trial last month in Park City, Utah where Laurent attends the University of Utah. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

A retired optometrist, a movie star and a 2021 Los Alamos High School graduate all congregated in a court room for a trial that was broadcast around the country. It sounds strange but it is true. Frances Laurent, a sophomore at the University of Utah and 2021 LAHS graduate, served on the jury for the trial between actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Read More

FBI: Artistas Asesinos Cartel Leader Sentenced To 27 Years For Drug Trafficking

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, and Gregory M. Millard, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA El Paso Division, announced Tuesday that Jorge Marquez was sentenced to over 27 years in prison.

Marquez, 43, of Chaparral, New Mexico, pleaded guilty May 17, 2022, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and six counts of distributing 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. April Read More

FBI: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty To Travel With Intent To Engage In Illicit Conduct

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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 Jonathan John James pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

James, 58, of Tsaile, Arizona, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, April 20, 2022, James followed a child as she shopped with a grandparent at a Home Depot in Gallup. James approached the minor, Read More

FBI: Crownpoint Man Pleads Guilty To Firearm Offenses

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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 Wednesday that Derrick Cook pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Cook, 28, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement, Aug. 27, 2022, Cook got in an argument with some individuals outside the Crownpoint Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Issues Opinion Rejecting ‘Logrolling’ Challenge To Constitutional Amendment

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Justice Michael E. Vigil

New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE — A voter-approved measure that changed New Mexico’s utility regulator did not unconstitutionally logroll multiple proposals into a single ballot question, the New Mexico Supreme Court concluded in an opinion issued Tuesday.

The Court’s unanimous opinion provided the legal reasoning for a decision announced from the bench late last year that allowed an overhaul of the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) to take effect in January.

Constitutional Amendment 1 made the PRC a regulatory agency of three members appointed by the Read More

FBI: Torres Pleads Guilty To Second Degree Murder

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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 Malcom Torres has pleaded guilty to second degree murder.

Torres, 29, of Española will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Sept. 7, 2019, Torres was home with his 5-year-old stepdaughter, identified as Jane Doe and 18-month-old son. Torres was heavily intoxicated and not fit to supervise the children. Read More

Lunch With A Leader: Chief Justice Shannon Bacon April 20

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Chief Justice Shannon Bacon

LWVLA News:

This month’s League of Women Voter’s Los Alamos (LWVLA) community Lunch with a Leader is noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 20, in the Fellowship Hall at the Unitarian Church.

The speaker is New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Shannon Bacon. The Chief Justice will attend on Zoom, but there will be no zoom for others. The meeting will be recorded.

Chief Justice Bacon was appointed to the New Mexico Supreme Court Jan. 25, 2019, after being recommended by the nonpartisan Judicial Nominating Commission. After growing up in Albuquerque, Bacon earned her bachelor’s Read More

FBI: Drunk Man 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, has announced that Keanu Marcel Upshaw pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Upshaw, 22, of Shiprock and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Sept. 16, 2021, Upshaw lost control of the vehicle he was driving, causing it to crash and ejecting both Upshaw and his passenger Read More

Judge Finds Legislative Council Service Violated IPRA

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Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood

NMFOG News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) applauds the decision by New Mexico First Judicial Court Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood ruling the New Mexico Legislative Council Service (LCS) violated the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) by failing to fulfill a request from Ethics Watch for public records regarding the 2021 Junior Appropriations Act.

In the suit filed in December 2021, Ethics Watch requested spreadsheets containing the complete list of appropriations and the name of the House and Senate member submitting Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument Today In Española As Part Of Rule Of Law Program For Students

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New Mexico Supreme Court News:

The New Mexico Supreme Court will hear an oral argument at 1 p.m. today in Española as part of its Rule of Law Program, a civics education program for students.

Where: Nick Salazar Center for the Arts, campus of Northern New Mexico College in Española.

At the hearing, the Court will consider a criminal case appeal (State v. King) that raises questions about state and federal constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. The case helps illuminate for students the judiciary’s role in interpreting federal and state constitutions. Read More