Police

Governor Says Crime Package Falls Short, New Mexicans Demand More

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Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos chairs the House Judiciary Committee. She is shown here on the House Floor at the opening of the 60-Day Session, Jan. 21 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

As the state House of Representatives prepares to take up a crime package as early as Saturday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is expressing her support but calling on lawmakers to do more to improve public safety in New Mexico.

The crime package, after all, consists of only six bills.

“I support these bills and appreciate the House’s Read More

New Public Safety Package Mingles Competency And Crime, Drawing Concerns On Both Sides

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By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

What’s the difference between going to trial and taking a plea deal? 

What does the prosecutor do? And who’s that sitting at the head of the courtroom, wearing the black robe? 

These are some of the questions defense attorneys use to gauge a client’s competency — a legal term referring to a defendant’s mental capacity to understand the charges they face and to help in their own defense. 

Second Judicial District Defender Dennica Torres said defense attorneys raise competency concerns when their clients “don’t understand that they’re Read More

Assistant DA Makes Case In State Vs. William Ryan Skelton

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Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Elizabeth Counce with the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office questions witness Cpl. Michael Weiss on the stand during a preliminary hearing in the case of William Ryan Skelton, 39, of Los Alamos, Monday in Magistrate Court at the Justice Center. ADA Counce made her case against Skelton who is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The charges filed against Skelton stem from an incident Jan. 25, 2025 during which testimony indicates that he approached four 9th grade Read More

Schools On 2 Hour Delay Due To Accident On Truck Route

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By Superintendent Jennifer Guy:

Los Alamos Public Schools will be on a 2 hour delay today due to a serious traffic accident at N.M. 4 and East Jemez Road (the truck route). At this time, LAPD has notified the school district that there will be significant traffic delays due to the accident. We are not able to run bus routes so we will have a 2 hour delay for all schools. 

Los Alamos Public Schools will be on a 2 hour delay today, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. We ​will start school 2 hours late​. 

During a 2-hour delay, all schools will start 2 hours late. Buses will arrive at stops 2 hours late. Staff should plan Read More

U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures 51-Month Sentence In Vehicular Homicide Case

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Sanostee man was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $8,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter for a fatal drunk-driving crash that occurred on the Navajo Nation.

According to court documents, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Aug. 12, 2023, Leonardo Robbie Duncan, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving while intoxicated on Navajo Route 36 near Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, when he crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a vehicle occupied by Jane and John Doe.

Duncan Read More

New Mexico House Moves Two More Public Safety Priorities 

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HB 31 Sponsor Rep. Joy Garratt

House Judiciary Committee News:

          • Legislation would deter shooting threats and vehicle thefts

SANTA FE –  The House Judiciary Committee (HJC) has advanced two more priority policies that will be considered for inclusion in the House Democrats’ integrated public safety package. 

House Bill 31 would increase the penalty for making a shooting threat toward a school or public to a fourth-degree felony, aligning it with the state’s penalty for bomb threats. It is sponsored by Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Brian Baca (R-Los Lunas), and Andrea Reeb (R-Albuquerque).  Read More

Lawmakers Mull How To Address Teen Gun Problem After Albuquerque Shooting Turns Deadly

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From left, Adrian Maestas, Noah Maestas and Stephanie Maestas, father, son and step mother to the late Adrian Maestas Jr., sit together and listen to other individuals speaking of their loved ones who were lost to homicide during Victims of Homicide Day to honor the lives of New Mexican’s loved ones lost to violence in the Rotunda at the state Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. Adrian , 15, was shot and killed in Rio Rancho in Oct. 2024. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

Noah Maestas, 7, wears a shirt bearing an image of his late brother Adrian Maestas during Victims of Homicide Day in the Rotunda Read More

Some Support, Some Have Reservations On Complex Criminal Competency Bill In New Mexico House Judiciary Committee

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Rep. Christine Chandler
House Judiciary Committee Chair

By NICHOLAS GILMORE
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Members of the House Judiciary Committee appear ready to support a bipartisan proposal to change the state’s criminal competency laws as part of a larger package of public safety measures.

If approved when the committee takes up the bill next week, House Bill 4 will head to the floor of the state House of Representatives, having cleared its second House committee.

The bill would provide a process for evaluations of competency as well as dangerousness that can be used to order involuntary commitment Read More

NJROTC Departs For Regional Competition In Tucson

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The Los Alamos High School NJROTC team did well in the Area 20 East Qualifier Drill last week in Albuquerque, earning them the opportunity to compete this weekend in the Area 20 Quest for Gold Regional Competition at Sahuaria High School in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

The NJROTC team share a cheer this morning prior to departing for Tucson. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

LAFD and LAPD escort the team through town this morning as they depart to compete in the Area 20 Quest for gold Regional Competition for Tucson. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com Read More

New Mexico Governor’s Organized Crime Commission Apprehends Suspected Human Trafficker 

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Yajair Lizzet Lara, AKA Lara Mendez

From the Office of the Governor:

            • Albuquerque arrest strikes blow against organized crime 

SANTA FE – A multi-agency law enforcement team arrested a woman suspected of leading a major human trafficking operation in Albuquerque, marking a critical breakthrough in the fight against organized crime in New Mexico. 

Agents with the Governor’s Organized Crime Commission partnered with New Mexico State Police and the U.S. Border Patrol to arrest Yajair Lizzet Lara, AKA Lara Mendez, on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Lara is considered one of the top five human traffickers Read More