Courts

LAPD Receives Tip Identifying Package Thief

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 Steven Thoren is on the lam. Anyone who spots him should call LAPD at 505.662.8222.

LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) Criminal Investigations Section obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect in a recent theft of a package from the porch of a Los Alamos residence.

Due to a tip from Wednesday’s press release, LAPD Detectives obtained a “no bond” arrest warrant from Los Alamos Municipal Court for 36-year-old Steven Thoren.

The charge is for Larceny. Thoren also has not checked in with his probation officer and has a last known address in Rio Rancho.

Anyone who spots Thoren is asked Read More

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

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

TIERRA AMARILLA — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Thursday that former Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Barnes pled no contest 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 Read More

New Mexico AG Balderas: Lawsuit Against Alta Vista Regional Medical Center, Owner Quorum Health Resources

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From the Office of the Attorney General:

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Thursday a state lawsuit against the Alta Vista Regional Medical Center in Las Vegas, N.M. (“Alta Vista”) and its owner Quorum Health Resources.

The suit brought under the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, as well as other state laws, alleges that Alta Vista has routinely advertised services, which it could not perform, or which it could only perform in a substandard manner including, but not limited to:

  • OB/GYN services;
  • Pediatric Services;
  • Surgical Services;
  • ER services;
  • Respiratory
Read More

Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon To Receive Award From Albuquerque Bar Association

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Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon

AOC News:

SANTA FE — Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon has been selected as the first recipient of the Albuquerque Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award.

“This award recognizes Chief Justice Bacon’s distinguished service and continued determination to make the courts and legal process accessible to all people regardless of means,” Meredith Johnstone said, president of the Albuquerque Bar Association. “The Chief Justice’s efforts have positively impacted the Albuquerque community and will continue to shape the legal Read More

Former Catron County Sheriff Ian Fletcher Faces 10 Felonies

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Former Catron County Sheriff

From the Office of the Attorney General:

RESERVE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today the filing of an Information alleging 10 felony counts against former Catron County Sheriff Ian Fletcher related to misusing federal funds in the aftermath of the Buzzard Fire in May of 2018.

Catron County entered into a cooperative law enforcement agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the United States Forest Service (USFS), to provide law enforcement assistance during this fire.

Fletcher is alleged to have embezzled Read More

Balderas Requests U.S. DHS Secretary Intervene For New Mexicans, Communities Recovering From Wildfire Disaster

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas sent a letter to United States Department of  Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, requesting assistance for New Mexico families struggling to access disaster relief funding in their efforts to recover from the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak wildfire disaster, and stressed the need for flexible, localized regulation in the post-disaster recovery effort.

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Secretary Mayorkas,

As New Mexico’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, I am, like you, primarily Read More

Balderas & DA Key Announce Life Sentence For Ruidoso Man

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALAMOGORDO — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Scot Key announced today that Ricardo Soto was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of killing a two-year-old toddler.

Soto was convicted of Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Death of a two-year-old toddler, Jeremiah Nevarez, following a three-week-long trial. The jury heard evidence that Soto, after inflicting the injuries, which would eventually kill baby Jeremiah, fled to Mexico before his arrest at Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Approves Expansion Of Innovative Program To Assist People Unable To Complete Court Forms

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Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon

AOC News:

SANTA FE — Courts in three counties have successfully piloted a program to help people fill out court forms if they have difficulty reading or writing.

The scribing services now may expand to more places in New Mexico under an order by the state Supreme Court.

The program assists people unable to read or complete court forms because they have low literacy, a limited ability to read or write in English, or a disability that prevents them from independently filling out a form. Trained court employees or volunteers read the form aloud, write down Read More

FBI: Man Charged In San Felipe Shooting

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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 Jeremiah Tenorio has been charged in connection with a shooting on the San Felipe Pueblo.

Tenorio, 26, and an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo, appeared in federal court Nov. 28 for a detention hearing, facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Tenorio will remain on conditions Read More

FBI: Las Cruces Man Charged With Drug, Firearms Crimes

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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 Djuan Anthony Aldredge was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Aldredge, 30, of Las Cruces, appeared in federal court Nov. 30 for a detention hearing and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to a criminal complaint, July 1, FBI agents and officers with the Southern Read More