Garrett Thayne Katcher
A jury trial for Garrett Thayne Katcher, 33, of Los Alamos is slated to begin Wednesday morning in Los Alamos Magistrate Court on a charge of aggravated battery against a household member. Assistant District Attorney Kent Wahlquist is the prosecutor in the case and Katcher is represented by Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies in the first Magistrate Court jury trial of 2017.
Katcher was arrested Jan. 30 after former Los Alamos Police Ofc. David Bradshaw responded to the report of a fight and someone breaking a window at an address on 33rd Street. Upon arrival, Bradshaw’s incident/investigation report states that he observed Katcher striking a woman in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. Bradshaw got out of his vehicle and ordered Katcher to stop but Katcher attempted to leave the area so Bradshaw took him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.
The woman had scratches and abrasions on her face and lower back, according to the report. Los Alamos Fire Department was called to the scene and the woman was treated. The report also indicates that she told Bradshaw the fight had started when she exited the home to tell Katcher that her roommate did not want him in the home.
Katcher was previously arrested in January 2016 on charges of false imprisonment, battery against a household member, criminal trespass and interference with communications. Those charges were dismissed without prejudice by Wahlquist because the alleged victim made it clear that she will not cooperate in the prosecution of Katcher. The notice of dismissal filed in the First Judicial Court states that without the alleged victim’s cooperation, there was not a reasonable likelihood of the State’s success at trial.
Jurors for Wednesday’s trial were called using the State’s new jury management system where potential jurors receive a one-page summons in the mail with instructions on how to fill out other forms online. Judge Casados said the process seems to have gone smoothly. She said jury questionnaires and qualification forms are no longer mailed to jurors. Potential jurors who do not have access to a computer or the Internet have the option to pick up paper copies of the forms at the Justice Center. Jury selection will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.