Police

FBI: Former Ohkay Owingeh Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Obstruction Of Justice

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A former Ohkay Owingeh Police Department officer has pleaded guilty to using his position to disclose sensitive information about a federal investigation.

According to court documents, Feb. 26, 2020, Justin Aguino, 31, a former police officer with the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department, placed a phone call to an individual and disclosed that a person that individual was in contact with was cooperating with federal authorities. Aguino made these statements to alert the individual to the person’s status as an informant, knowing that such disclosure could interfere Read More

FBI: Vanderwagen Man Charged With Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Vanderwagen man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that reportedly left the victim with serious injuries.

According to court documents, March 10, 2026, Larry Wilbur Begay, 66, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly struck the victim multiple times with a metal workout bar inside a residence in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. The victim then fled to a nearby residence and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

As a result of the assault, the victim suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his right femur, left fibula, right Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty To Abusing Minor And Faces Life In Prison

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor over a four-year period.

According to court documents, Brian Begay, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against Jane Doe between 2015 and 2019, beginning when the victim was 12 and continuing until she was 16.

Begay pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact and faces up to life in prison at sentencing.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Read More

Taos County Sheriffs Recover Body Of Los Alamos Man Beneath Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

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Staff Report:

The Taos County Sheriff’s Office reports that it recovered the body of Chad Maestas, 19, of Los Alamos, on Sunday beneath the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.

The report indicates that Maestas jumped from the bridge.

Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera said that Maestas made two passes, circled around, and when security tried to intercept him, he got out of his vehicle and jumped over the bridge railing.

The Taos County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this death. Read More

FBI: Zuni Man Charged With Abuse

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Zuni man was indicted on federal sexual abuse charges related to an alleged assault.

According to court records, on June 11, 2024, Karl Devain Escobar, 33, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, engaged in a sex act with Jane Doe using force and without her consent.

Escobar is charged with sexual abuse and aggravated sexual abuse. He will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Escobar faces up to life in prison.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau Read More

Fire/Emergency Response And Planning Meeting For Livestock Owners Monday At Posse Lodge

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By WENDY BURKE-RYAN and LISA READER
LASOA

Hey, livestock owners! Do you know what’s required by New Mexico to move your horses, bovines, pigs, llamas and goats in case of evacuation due to wildfire? Do you know exit strategies, options, and rules? 

Come to a Fire/Emergency Response and Planning Meeting for livestock owners, at 6 p.m. Monday, April 6, at the Posse Lodge.

Los Alamos Wildland Fire Chief Van Leimer and Los Alamos Deputy Emergency Manager Cody Ulrich will present to us and answer questions about Emergency Planning and Fire Preparedness and Response. 

Los Alamos Stable Owners Association Read More

Largest Animal Seizure In Garland, Texas History Has Connection To Los Alamos County Animal Shelter

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By Cmdr. CHRISTOPHER ROSS
Los Alamos Police Department

As some of you may know, Los Alamos County Animal Shelter has been without cats for adoption for some time. This is thanks to our amazing community’s support of spay and neuter efforts, which have helped prevent an overpopulation of kittens and puppies. This has allowed our shelter to reach out to other animal shelters and rescue groups in need of clearing out space to help their own communities.

In this case, we were able to connect with what we believed to be a legitimate rescue in Texas that was in need of help with cats trying to find their forever Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Sentenced To Life Plus 60 Months For Violent Kidnapping-for-Ransom Scheme

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to life in prison plus 60 months after a federal jury convicted him on kidnapping charges stemming from a 2018 abduction, following nearly seven years on the run from law enforcement.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2018, just weeks after his release from prison for a felony firearm conviction stemming from a high-speed police chase, and while under court supervision and wearing a GPS ankle monitor, Jose Ramirez, 47, engineered a calculated and violent kidnapping-for-ransom Read More