Courts

AG Balderas Issues Finding On Assessment Of Law Enforcement Incident That Led To Death Of 15-Year-Old Boy

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE— New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas issued the following statement today upon the completion of the review of the actions of law enforcement that led to the July 6 death of Brett Rosenau.

“The unfortunate death of 15-year-old Brett Rosenau was avoidable, and it appears that less-lethal tactics to detain the suspect earlier would have mitigated fatal risks,” Attorney General Balderas said. “I am requesting APD Chief Harold Medina and Bernalillo County Sheriff-elect John Allen work together Read More

Governor, Attorney General, Environment Secretary, Trustee Announce Settlement With Final Contractors In Gold King Mine Litigation

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, Environment Secretary James Kenney, and Natural Resources Trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins Thursday announced a $5 million final settlement with Environmental Restoration, LLC and Weston Solutions, Inc. in the Gold King Mine litigation.

This marks the end of all litigation involving the State of New Mexico related to the 2015 Gold King Mine spill. In total, the state successfully fought for and won $48 million in settlements on behalf of New Mexicans, much of which will be reinvested into communities Read More

Balderas Takes Action To Recover Damages From Fires

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Wednesday, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that his office filed comments on the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act Regulations that were recently promulgated by the federal government.

The Attorney General’s comments strongly suggest changes be made to the regulations to address concerns with FEMA’s appointed claims manager, limitations on damages, and the lack of a clear appellate process.

Specifically, AG Balderas requests that FEMA appoint an independent claims manager with experience Read More

AG Balderas Announces Conviction Of Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Who Deployed Taser On Española Special-Needs Student

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AG Hector Balderas 

AG News:

TIERRA AMARILLA — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas gas announced that former Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Barnes pled guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment.

As part of the plea agreement, Barnes must relinquish any law-enforcement certification and is not eligible to seek, obtain, or have employment in any law-enforcement position for the rest of his life. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 5, 2023 where Barnes faces up to 18 months in prison.  

“There is no excuse for a public officer to abuse his power and use unnecessary force against Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Justices Take Oath Of Office

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Senior Justice Michael E. Vigil taking the Oath of Office. Courtesy/NMSC

Justice Julie J. Vargas takes the Oath of Office. Courtesy/NMSC

New Mexico Supreme Court News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Supreme Court Justices Michael E. Vigil, Julie J. Vargas and Briana H. Zamora took the oath of office Dec. 14, during a private ceremony in the Supreme Court courtroom.

Senior Justice Vigil begins a new eight-year term Jan. 1, 2023 after being selected for retention in the November election.

Justices Vargas and Zamora were elected in November and are serving out unexpired terms ending in 2028 and 2024, respectively. Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Charged In Drug & Firearms Probe

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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 Gerardo Rafael Lara-Yanez was charged in federal court with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking Read More

AG Hector Balderas Announces $132 Million In Opioid Settlements With Walmart, CVS & Albertsons

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

SANTA FE — Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that his office has resolved its opioid litigation against retail pharmacy chain operators Walmart, CVS, and Albertsons in a statewide deal that will deliver more than $132 million to the State and to local communities to fund opioid abatement efforts within the next 90 days. 

“I’m incredibly proud of the extraordinary work of my team in securing this historic settlement, and it is imperative that these funds are invested in treatment services Read More

AG Balderas: 85.5 Year Sentence For Serial Molester

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas today announced that Second Judicial District Court Judge Cindy Leos sentenced James Henz to 85.5 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. 

In September 2022, Henz accepted a plea agreement in which he was convicted of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact of a minor, and bribery or intimidation of a witness. At today’s sentencing, six children abused by Henz addressed the court, along with several of their parents, about the impact Henz’s actions had on them. In Read More

FBI: Zuni Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Assault And Firearms Offenses

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced Thursday that Martin Eriacho was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Eriacho, 52, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, pleaded guilty Sept. 7 to assault with a dangerous weapon and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Just after midnight Jan. 9, 2021, Eriacho drove to a residential area on the Zuni Reservation. From inside his car, Eriacho discharged a firearm twice, drawing attention from nearby residents. Several residents began Read More

Energy Secretary Announces Decision To Revoke Security Clearance Of J. Robert Oppenheimer Finally Nullified

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Holding the packet collected by the J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee (JROMC) and delivered to U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s office in 2016, from left, JROMC archivist Art Freed, Heinrich Senior Advisor Michael Sullivan, pursuing effort Subcommittee Chair Mary Louise Williams and JROMC Chair Cas Mason. Courtesy/JROMC

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm issued a statement Friday that announced that “pursuant to the authority vested in the Secretary of Energy to carry out the functions of the Atomic Energy Commission, Read More