Courts

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules On Legal Test For Calculating Credit For Presentence Confinement

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a decades-old legal test for determining whether a defendant serving a sentence in one case should receive a presentence confinement credit in another related case.

In a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas, the Court concluded that Hezekiah Eaker was entitled to a one-day credit against his sentence for a child sex crime rather than 881 days as he argued he should have received.

Parole officers found child sexual abuse material on Eakers phone in March 2019. He was taken into custody for parole Read More

NHCC Employees Win Hard-Fought Union Rights

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CWA News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Long misclassified as “temporary” workers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) will be allowed to join CWA Local 7076, with the same benefits and legal protections as other State employees.

Last year, after being denied sick leave and paid time off, workers at the NHCC unionized with Local 7076. Tuesday, May 5, the Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB) ruled unanimously that the State must recognize their Union rights.

“The NHCC runs on the backs of these workers and the State has been illegally denying them benefits like healthcare, retirement, Read More

LAPD: Investigators Recover Stolen/Suspected Stolen Property Leading To 70-Plus Charges In Los Alamos County, Sandoval County, National Parks & Forest Lands

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LAPD News:

On May 4, 2026, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office re-filed an Amended Criminal Complaint in Los Alamos Magistrate Court against Nehemiah Hillhouse and Gunner Stacy following a multi-agency investigation into numerous burglaries and breaking-and-entering cases.

During the investigation, Det. Cindy Garcia executed three search warrants involving a vehicle and two residences. As a result, investigators recovered more than $50,000 worth of stolen and suspected stolen property connected to cases that led to over 70 charges total in Los Alamos County, Sandoval Read More

Los Alamos Police Department Arrests Man In Historic Criminal Sexual Penetration Investigation

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Tim Pacheco

LAPD News:

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, detectives with the Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) Criminal Investigation Division arrested and charged Tim Pacheco, 63, of Los Alamos with 28 counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration in the First Degree.

Following a lengthy and detailed investigation, Det. Ladislas Szabo filed charges related to incidents alleged to have occurred between 1986 and 1995 involving two juvenile male victims. Due to the sensitive nature of this case and to protect the privacy of the victims, additional identifying details will not be released.

This investigation Read More

New Video By New Mexico Courts Explains Jury Duty

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The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court celebrates Juror Appreciation Week. From left to right: Jury Division staff Emily Dominguez, Abbey Whitaker and Manager Alyssia Trujillo. Courtesy/Metro Court

COURT News:

SANTA FE – A new video provides a clear, modern guide to serving as a juror in a New Mexico court.

The orientation video explains what to expect during jury service, including what happens if a person must report to a courthouse for possible selection as a juror in a criminal or civil trial. Click here to view the juror orientation video on the New Mexico Courts YouTube channel.

“New Read More

FBI: ‘Dirty Bondsman’ Charged With Trafficking, Forced Labor Scheme

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FBI News:

  • If convicted of the current charges, Hernandez faces up to life in prison.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces bounty hunter is facing federal charges after he allegedly bonded vulnerable individuals out of jail and exploited them through coercion and threats.

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received information that Robert Jay Hernandez, 62, a bounty hunter working for a bail bond company in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was bonding individuals out of the Doña Ana County Detention Center and requiring them to live at his personal residence.

Investigators Read More

New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Man’s Convictions For Murder At Albuquerque Motel

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has affirmed a Bernalillo County man’s convictions for a fatal shooting in 2021 at an Albuquerque motel and conspiring to rob the victim.

In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Michael E. Vigil, the Court rejected arguments by the defendant, Christopher Maldonado, that there was not enough evidence to convict him and that the jury was confused by the instructions it received from the trial court.

“Viewing the evidence in its entirety, a reasonable jury could have found that Defendant was the masked individual who shot Victim. We conclude Read More

Fourth Annual Summit For Treatment Court Alumni May 4-6

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NMSC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The Administrative Office of the Courts Therapeutic Justice Support Program is hosting the NM Alumni Summit at the Santa Ana Resort & Casino, May 4-6, 2026.

More than 265 people are expected to attend the summit, which will provide alumni, professionals, and families with professional development to enhance the support system for alumni and participants of treatment court programs in New Mexico. 

“The Judiciary values the long-term successes of alumni,” said New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Julie J. Vargas. “New Mexico is the leader in Treatment Court Read More

Luján, Blackburn Bipartisan Bill To Crack Down On Carjacking Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statements after their Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This legislation would make a long overdue fix to the federal carjacking statute, empowering prosecutors to hold more offenders accountable.

“The Albuquerque area continues to rank among the top cities for carjackings. This is unacceptable and puts people’s lives and livelihoods at risk,” Sen. Luján said. “It is a positive step that legislation to give prosecutors Read More