NMSC News:

The New Mexico Supreme Court (NMSC) Thursday affirmed the convictions of Travis Nolan for first-degree murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence for the 2019 shooting death of a man in Ruidoso.

The Court remanded the case to the trial court for resentencing because the justices concluded that a one-year sentencing enhancement – rather than three years – should have been imposed on Nolan for using a firearm to commit a noncapital felony such as armed robbery. State law requires a one-year firearm enhancement if the offense is the defendant’s first felony.

Nolan was sentenced in 2023 to life in prison plus an additional 15 years. Under state law, life imprisonment requires serving at least 30 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Click here to read the opinion in State v. Nolan, S-1-SC-40029.