Reeb also argued heavy media coverage of the trial made it difficult to find jurors without knowledge of the allegations against Lujan. Both judges ordered the change of venue in response to motions filed by 9th Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb, appointed as a special prosecutor to handle the cases against Lujan. The Rio Arriba County Commission on Dec. 6 appointed then Maj. Billy Merrifield a seven-year veteran of the sheriffs office to fill Lujans post until the voters chose a new sheriff in 2023. "While all elected officials have a duty to fulfill the . He was the first sheriff to complete his elected two-year term. Both cases against Lujan involve former Espaola City Councilor Phillip Chacon. By Phaedra Haywood Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, whose two criminal trials were already moved to Santa Fe County, will have the cases heard by Santa Fe County jurors, a judge ruled Thursday. Not at all, Peterson said. The spokesperson declined to comment further, but said that "Deputy Navarrette is currently the subject of an internal investigation related to this incident, and as such we cannot discuss the case.". Local News. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, Wake-Up Weather: AM showers then mild and breezy, Cooking Corner: Special recipes and foods for Black History Month, Amazon's Daisy Jones & the Six Is the Latest in a Long Line of Embarrassing Portraits of Musical Genius, Man in hospital after shooting in St. Denis neighborhood, police say. When the ASU officer confronted the off-duty deputy about driving under the influence, video obtained by NBC affiliate KPNX showed Navarrette admitting that he was, saying, "Yeah, but I'm also a police officer.". Efforts to reach Navarrette by phone Tuesday were unsuccessful. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In the months after the incident, Lattin said, Lujan told him about 30 times not to tell anyone about their interaction. Thats what a jury decided Wednesday after less than four hours of deliberations. Albuquerque Talent Development Academy while Albuquerque Talent Development Academy while turning down that of another, El Camino Real Academy. Invitational brings 16 NM brewery together for a stout 2023 Stout Invitational, hosted by Bathtub 2023 Stout Invitational, hosted by Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op, 163 Central Park Square in Los Alamos, will be held from noon to 6 p.m. "MANIA: The ABBA Tribute" is scheduled "MANIA: The ABBA Tribute" is scheduled to play the KiMo Theatre on Sunday, March 5, as part of its United States tour. This is also who Broadway Road in Phoenix isnamed after. During his investigation, Aquino says in his complaint, county employees complained to him about other unapproved self-endowment of County benefits by county employees.. It was reported that he was suffering from terminal cancer. Create a password that only you will remember. Andrea Rowley Reeb, the Clovis-area district attorney appointed by the state Attorney Generals Office as special prosecutor in the case, didnt immediately return phone calls from the Journal on Friday. During the two-day trial, Bowles highlighted parts of the prosecutions case and witness testimony that were inconsistent. But an ABC15 investigation found Superiors police force was filled with discredited cops, who were enabled by a broken Brady list system that let them escape lasting accountability and kept past transgressions hidden from disclosure. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Dec. 29Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, already a convicted felon, pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge accusing him of interfering with a March 2020 operation by Espaola. Serving from 1901 to 1902, Samuel Stout wasalso amember of the Salt River Water Users Association, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Aquinos lawsuit says he had worked at the department for six years before the incident, had never been accused of improper use of force and received a Medal of Valor from the department in 2018. Despite efforts by the defense to convince jurors that Lujan didnt know that Chacon would be charged with fleeing Espaola police, or that he was concerned for public safety following a high-speed chase, the jury found him guilty on both counts. In that case, Lujan was found guilty of helping Chacon avoid being arrested following a high-speed chase through Espaola in March 2017 by picking up Chacon at his home after the pursuit and driving him away in a patrol vehicle. I am extremely satisfied with the conviction, Reeb said following the verdict. Lujan is facing felony charges of bribery of a witness and harboring or aiding a felon. He is charged in that case with three counts of resisting or obstructing an officer for refusing to turn over his cellphone to officers investigating the incident involving Chacon. I hope the citizens of Rio Arriba can rebuild their faith in the Rio Arriba Sheriffs Office under new leadership., She added: Most importantly, I want to thank the Espaola Police Department for their continued support in the prosecution of all these matters. The road to those decisions was rocky. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. The issue is that the prosecutors who keep them have no requirement to share that information with AZPOST, which is the organization that would decertify problematic officers, said Jared Keenan, a former defense attorney now with the ACLU Arizona. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Known for his harsh form of justice, Thomas Warden served from 1871 to 1872. The Sheriff's Posse was nationally recognized during Hill's time, and President Ronald Regan visited Sun City Posse Headquarters during this time. First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies declined comment, anticipating that the case will be retried. He achievements span from expandingposses in number and function, to using bloodhounds for searching. Dont put my f------ career at risk.. Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood who presided over a trial in June against Lujan in the rural Rio Arriba County seat of Tierra Amarilla, which ended with a hung jury is the . He argued "there are significant differences between persons residing in Santa Fe County and those residing in Rio Arriba county," and that using only jurors from Santa Fe County would result in a jury pool "comprised of members vastly disproportionate to that of Mr. Lujan's peers.". Lujan has another trial coming up next month in a case that also involved Chacon. Each county attorneys office keeps their own list in their own way, applying all different standards for what misconduct belongs. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. ABQ's independent, alternative, reader-supported news. In an email Friday, Campos denied talking to the deputy about Montoya. An ABC15 investigation found Superior's police force is filled with discredited cops, who've been enabled by a broken Brady list system that lets them escape lasting accountability and keeps . Another flaw is a lack of mandatory outside reporting. @Copwatchtv has been following the saga between the Rio Arriba Sheriff and Espaola Police Department. Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning. Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella, sitting in the defendant's chair rather than on the side of the law, and his family were visibly upset when jurors convicted him of pulling his gun. He held manyprominent positions to help in this effort, such aspresident of the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and Phoenix fraternal associations, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Campos said Montoya didnt want to comment on the allegations. 162 Tierra Amarilla, NM 87575 Phone: (575) 588-7254 Fax (575) 588-7810 Rio Arriba County Annex Building: 1122 Industrial Park Road Espaola, NM 87532 Phone: (505) 753-2992 Fax: (505) 753-9397 Tierra Amarilla, NM 24 1:05 am MST Clear Get this widget Espaola, NM 25 1:05 am MST Mostly clear Get this widget Serving from 1939 to 1944, Lon Jordan was a popular sheriff in the three terms he served, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. A state grand jury will begin hearing evidence in its investigation of the North Central Solid Waste Authority on April 24, following decades of allegations of financial and operational mismanagement, predatory collections practices and, more recently, the death of an employee, court records show. He mademany changes, such as starting contract law enforcement services with towns. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. During this time he also served as an assessor and tax collector, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. During Lujans trial, Lattin testified that the sheriff had asked him to follow him to Chacons house to help serve a restraining order. Click here to see full coverage. It was Officer Richard Mueller, whos worked for four different law enforcement agencies. In 1893, Maricopa County had a jail overcrowding problem, and this was James Murphy's biggest task when he was in office from 1893 to 1894. Stay informed of the latest local news by receiving emails as soon as news is posted online. But Lujan arrived on the scene, smelling of alcohol, and demanded that police leave, saying he would arrest Chacon, according to police reports. A lifelong resident of New Mexico, he found interest in broadcasting after falling in love with sports. Normally, the undersheriff would take the lead in such a situation, but in this case, it remains unclear, as Undersheriff Martin Trujillo, a close friend of Lujans faces his own felony charges related to Lujans criminal troubles. Thomas Agnos held office from 1989-92 andbrought a higher standard of law enforcement ethics to the office, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Under the terms of Lujans agreement with 9th Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb, a special prosecutor in the case, state District Judge Bryan Biedscheid sentenced Lujan to 364 days on the misdemeanor count of resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, Reeb confirmed after the hearing Wednesday. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Isabella Alves / Journal North This case was one of the most interesting cases Ive been involved with based on the amount of political influence Lujan holds in the county, and the bias that created, but in the end, truth and honesty prevailed.. He met his budget goals each year he was Sheriff, among other accomplishments. District Attorney Andrea Reeb accused Lujan of abusing his authority, saying he loved the power of being the sheriff. Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan was sentenced on Thursday morning after being convicted of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness. If you come across them, do not attempt to apprehend them yourself. Former Rio Arriba County sheriff's Deputy Joseph Aquino has filed a whistleblower lawsuit that claims he was fired on a trumped-up charge of excessive use of force after uncovering . NM film industry playing a role in getting a 'Heist 88,' starring Courtney B. Vance, 'Heist 88,' starring Courtney B. Vance, to finish post-production in New Mexico, Vietnamese restaurant Saigon atop ABQ's dining scene. 'I'm also a police officer': Arizona sheriff's deputy pleads for release after being pulled over for DUI. We never charge for local news. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, War, anger cloud Ukrainian athletes path to Paris, No. Sandoval County. His farm was located between Seventh and 23rd avenues on the south side of what we now call Broadway Road, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. This started the reinstatement of the death penalty in Arizona,according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Danny Garcia, whose term ended late last year, said Friday he had no knowledge of the issues described in the complaint. Voting Rights Bill Draws Mixed Opinions at Legislative Hearing, Biden Appoints MLG to Council of Governors, Bill Banning the Sale of Assault Weapons Passes Through First Committee, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Reeb's motions to move the cases out of Rio Arriba said jurors polled after the mistrial felt uncomfortable deliberating in the Tierra Amarilla courthouse, where numerous sheriff's deputies who report to Lujan were providing security. The verdict was handed down in the mid-afternoon following his second trial for harboring a felon and intimidation of a witness. His trial is set for March of next year. On Friday, a jury. I could not move my arms at all if I wanted to They had complete control over me. There was also a major increase in "uncompensated deputies" during this time,according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. He also had pornography stashed on his work computer in a folder labeled Fun Time.. He started construction on Madison Street Jail. You may remember video back in March when Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan. Former Rio Arriba County sheriffs Deputy Joseph Aquino gets into an altercation in March 2019 with George Vigil, an employee at Family Dollar in Chimay. He is also accused of three counts of resisting, obstructing or evading an officer in a related case pertaining to his arrest in the first case for failing to unlock a cellphone for police to review. The Town of Superior did not respond to an email request for comment. Petersons arrest was recorded on a reserve officers body camera. By clicking submit, you agree to receive The Paper by email. Lattin was one of the officers who pursued Chacon during the chase. Rio Arriba County Seat: 149 State Rd. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin was found not guilty Wednesday of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register House approves retail crime bill that could lead to Amid a recent rise in retail theft, a bill giving prosecutors the ability to charge individuals convicted of stealing large amounts of merchandise from I-40 westbound closed overnight in Gallup; storm headed to New Mexico is shutting down Interstate New Mexico is shutting down Interstate 40 westbound in Gallup in response to a winter storm in Arizona. New Mexico. Roy Merrill's time in office was brief, from just 1937 to 1938. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Navarrette flashed the officer his badge, according to the footage. "MANIA: The ABBA Tribute" is scheduled to play the KiMo Theatre on Sunday, March 5,, Albuquerque Talent Development Academy while turning down that of another, El Camino Real Academy., SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin was found not guilty. However, a new jail was built, and the conflict was resolved. In 2019, Doran was fired from Superior for again having sex on duty, which he recorded on his body camera. In an interview, Napoleon Garcia said Friday the allegations in Aquinos lawsuit are false and absurd.. Reeb dismissed two other counts of the same charge, related to Lujans failure to cooperate with Espaola officers and Taos County sheriffs deputies who arrived at the Rio Arriba County Sheriffs Office in May 2020 to execute search warrants for his cellphones. At the time Saucedo said he overheard those words, Lujan was allegedly helping Chacon evade Espaola police. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. Aug. 20A state district judge ruled Friday that Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan is too well-known in the county to stand trial there and a criminal case against him will be heard, instead, in Santa Fe. He also was involved as part of the Territorial Council in movingthe capital from Prescott to Phoenix, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Choose wisely! A spokesperson for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office told KPNX that Navarrette was initially placed on modified duty. One of his top accomplishments is building the . Many of the allegations center on three blood relatives: former Rio Arriba County Commissioner Danny Garcia; his nephew, Rio Arriba County Public Works Administrator Napoleon Garcia; and Napoleon Garcias son, Terrance Garcia, a former police officer in the village of Cuba who also has worked at the Rio Arriba County jail. You should totally be expected to be at a higher standard, if you want that job, you know what I mean.. Attempts to contact Terrance Garcia were unsuccessful. Biedscheid is scheduled to consider those arguments at an Aug. 26 hearing. They showed everyone will be held accountable for criminal charges, whether in law enforcement or an elected official. Former Rio Arriba County sheriffs Deputy Joseph Aquino has filed a whistleblower lawsuit that claims he was fired on a trumped-up charge of excessive use of force after uncovering wrongdoing by well-connected county officials and employees. He was sheriff from 1889 to 1890, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. From 1929 to 1930, Charles Wright served. You dont think its gonna put mine at risk if I dont do this? the officer replied. The earliest many Arizona counties began keeping Brady lists was around 20 years ago. There are twice as many people living in poverty in Rio Arriba County as in Santa Fe County, Bowles added. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin was found not guilty Wednesday of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register House approves retail crime bill that could lead to Amid a recent rise in retail theft, a bill giving prosecutors the ability to charge individuals convicted of stealing large amounts of merchandise from I-40 westbound closed overnight in Gallup; storm headed to New Mexico is shutting down Interstate New Mexico is shutting down Interstate 40 westbound in Gallup in response to a winter storm in Arizona. Lujan also was convicted of intimidating or threatening a witness for taking one of his former deputies, Cody Lattin, to Chacons house with him that night and directing Lattin not to tell anyone what he had done or to discuss his actions on police radio. Penzone has said he will push for more transparency and to refocus the agency on law enforcement. But local journalists still have to eat. ALBUQUERQUEU.S. For months, prosecutors threatened a lengthy sentence if he didnt plead guilty and agree to a deal of six-month sentence. ESPAOLA, N.M. (KRQE) - A New Mexico sheriff arrested earlier this year is now facing even more charges. From 1881 to 1884 and from 1895 to 1898, Lindely Orme served four terms as Maricopa County sheriff, with 10 years between his second and third terms. Stay informed of the latest local news by receiving emails as soon as news is posted online. He has about three years left on his sentence. By Phaedra Haywood Choose wisely! William Grey is best remembered for his supervision of Maricopa Countys search-and-rescue efforts after the 1890 collapse of the Walnut Grove Dam. Many, if not most should be considered armed and dangerous. Afterward, Lattin said the sheriff repeatedly told him not to tell anyone what had happened. Lujan was convicted in a December jury trail of felony counts of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness. The county manager does all that. 22 TCU wins 75-73 to deny No. Peterson believes thats anything but full disclosure. A man of firsts, George Mowry was the first sheriff to serve two consecutive terms, which he did from 1875 to 1878. APS board begrudgingly approves one charter school, denies another. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. There was nothing I could do.. He also found it important and took pride in running school safety patrols. ESPAOLA - Attorneys have taken an initial step toward suing the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office, which is accused of retaliating against a journalist as she reported on use of force at a . Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Still, he was repeatedly elected. Manriquezs lawsuit attacks the abysmal record of Superiors police force. According to his lawsuit, the file Aquino gave the Attorney Generals Office in late May 2019 concerned an investigation he began earlier that year into county Public Works personnel, including an allegation that county Public Works employee Jacob Montoya used a county credit card for personal expenses. Starr Daley was hanged at the scene of the crimes he was accused of:murdering a man and kidnapping and raping the man's wife. Im not talking to the press at all at all.. 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Rio Arriba County Attorney Adn Trujillo said in an email Aquinos lawsuit is beyond the pale, and provided video of the former deputys interaction with an employee of the Family Dollar store in Chimay in March 2019, which he said was the basis for Aquinos firing. Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, already a convicted felon, pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge accusing him of interfering with a March 2020 operation by Espaola police officers who were serving a warrant on his friend, former Espaola City Councilor Phillip Chacon. Retired Phoenix police Sgt. Throughout his 24 years as sheriff, from 1993-2016, Joe Arpaio was criticized for using his office for unprofessional activities, which have resulted in numerous lawsuits that costs taxpayers$142 million in legal expenses,settlements and court awards. Phaedra Haywood, The Santa Fe New Mexican, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at Dave@ABC15.com. Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan was sentenced on Thursday morning after being convicted of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Petersons charges were eventually dropped. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Rio Arriba County Undersheriff Martin Ray Trujillo has agreed to retire at the end of the month, in exchange for a prosecutor dropping the felony charge he was facing. He was the passenger in a car stopped for a cracked windshield, and officers found a small amount of marijuana and a pipe in the center console. 'Cliffs of Dover' guitarist Eric Johnson bringing tour to Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Johnson will make Grammy-winning guitarist Eric Johnson will make a stop at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Saturday, March 4. Last year, Rodella appealed his sentence after there was a change in federal firearms law but the judge denied his request. After her husband died, Jewel Jordan was elected to finish his term in 1944, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. Espaola police arrested Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan on Thursday and charged him with two counts of obstructing an officer after he failed to comply with a search warrant for his. Rio Arriba County Undersheriff Martin Ray Trujillo has agreed to retire at the end of the month, in exchange for a prosecutor dropping the felony charge he was facing. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Isabella Alves / Journal Staff Writer However, he isn't necessarily remembered for his improvements, as Agnos was blamed for the flaws in the investigation of theBuddhist temple murders. ESPAOLA, N.M.(KRQE) A New Mexico sheriff will serve three years in prison for helping his friend evade police. In depositions, his attorneys finally discovered which one of the officers repeatedly punched him during the raid. Contests and special offers from The Santa Fe New Mexican and advertising partners. According to personnel records obtained by ABC15, Ensley has worked in at least six Arizona police departments, either failing to meet standards, resigning under investigation, or getting fired for dishonesty. How much have you had to drink tonight? the officer asked. According to Clays affidavit, Lujan later told her: We are going to send [Aquino] to anger management class and use of force training., Romero said in an affidavit dated Aug. 6, 2020, that Terrance Garcia at the time, a police officer in Cuba threatened to retaliate against him to prevent him from sharing damaging information Garcia had shared about his family and officials in Rio Arriba County regarding a scheme to frame Mr. Aquino., Romeros affidavit says Garcia said the plot against Aquino was related to his investigation of embezzlement and misuse of County property., The affidavit also says that after Aquino applied for a job with Cuba police, Garcia tried to sway him against hiring Aquino by bragging about his familys political pull in Rio Arriba County.. His son also became sheriff two years after Montgomery'sdeath in 1919, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Aug. 20A state district judge ruled Friday that Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan is too well-known in the county to stand trial there and a criminal case against him will be heard, instead, in Santa Fe. The road to those decisions was rocky. There is no pavement on Napoleons road, he added. Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputy Joseph Aquino gets into an altercation with George Vigil, an employee at Family Dollar in Chimay, in March of 2019. Lujan resigned earlier this month after his conviction. He was, however, elected the following yearfor the 1926-27 term. You couldnt f------ give me the opportunity to park the car," he said. The officers from the other agencies were trying to confiscate Lujans cellphone at the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Espaola, after charges were filed against him. Mummert also introduced civilian replacements for deputies as radio dispatchers and jail guards. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Lujans predecessor Thomas Rodella left the office after being convicted of civil rights violations. The arrest was also captured on body camera and shows Ensley taser Maughn after he was handcuffed and laying on the ground. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Clay who reported on the fallout from the incident in August 2019 for the Rio Grande Sun said in an affidavit she was in Lujans office in late March 2019 and heard Lujan say to Aquino, Good job, not killing him, little mouthy bastard, while referring to the incident with Vigil. However, Volkmer said the officers unnecessarily escalated the situation and wished they would have handled it differently. Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood who presided over a trial in June against Lujan in the rural Rio Arriba County seat of Tierra Amarilla, which ended with a hung jury is the second judge to move a case against the sheriff out of the county. The jury was split 8-4, with the majority believing Lujan was innocent on both counts, said defense attorney Jason Bowles. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella, sitting in the defendant's chair rather than on the side of the law, and his family were visibly upset when jurors . He was accused of showing up drunk at a crime scene at Chacon's home in Espaola in March 2020 and attempting to take over the operation from police. I believe the jury had serious reservations and doubts about the prosecutions case, he said. That trial is scheduled to begin July 26. During his first term he created the "Urgency Fund," which eliminated the delays of deputies being refunded for work expenses. In the case Reeb has said she intends to retry after jurors deadlocked 8-4 in favor of acquittal, Lujan faces felony charges of bribing or threatening a witness and harboring a felon during an incident in 2017, in which he is accused of helping Chacon evade police officers Chacon had led on a high-speed chase. During that time, he wasacquitted of bribery and conspiracy chargestiedto countywide gambling and political corruption problems, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. She said that after a chase of former Espaola city councilor Phillip Chacon whom Lujan is accused of harboring and aiding Espaola police officer Ernest Saucedo allegedly overheard a phone conversation between Lujan and another officer during which Lujan reportedly said, dont (expletive) tell anyone where were at or what were doing., Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. There was a problem saving your notification. 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