Albuquerque City Council President To Retire At End Of Term - The Associated Press
The Albuquerque City Council's president plans to step down at the end of his current term.
Council President Rey Garduno was elected to the council in 2007.
The Democrat represents a district that includes much of the Southeast Heights, including the University of New Mexico campus, Nob Hill and the International District.
In an email announcing his retirement, Garduño endorsed a potential replacement, ProgressNow New Mexico executive director Pat Davis.
Ex-Comptroller Of Albuquerque Company Pleads Guilty To Fraud - The Associated Press
The former comptroller of an Albuquerque construction company has pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft charges.
Prosecutors say 40-year-old Stephanie Pyle, of Albuquerque, faces up to a 12-year prison term when she's sentenced and be required to pay restitution that currently is estimated at more than $2.4 million.
Pyle was charged in February on a 12-count indictment. She pleaded guilty to two counts Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Pyle faces up to a 10-year prison term on the credit card fraud charge and a mandatory two-year prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge, to be served consecutively.
They say Pyle used credit cards and account numbers in the name of a construction company without authorization and with the intent to defraud the business between January 2010 and May 2014.
New Mexico Personnel Office Make Dent In Pay-Back Case - The Associated Press
New Mexico's personnel office has issued more than 9,000 checks to state workers owed back pay under a 2013 court ruling, but officials say there are about 1,000 cases that still need to be sorted out.
The office cited the complicated nature of the remaining cases as the reason the process has taken longer than expected.
But union officials said Tuesday the state appears to be dragging its feet.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees estimates at least one-fifth of the $30 million settlement has yet to be paid. Spokesman Miles Conway says that money could be going into the pockets of New Mexico workers and then into the economy.
State officials offered no timeline for when the personnel office and its accounting contractor will finish issuing checks.
Police Chief Orders Review Of Dead Suspect's Treatment - The Associated Press
New Mexico's police chief is ordering an internal review of how officers treated a suspect who hid in a storage container and was dead for hours before officers noticed.
KRQE-TV reports State Police Chief Pete Kassetas ordered the investigation after seeing lapel video of the incident for the first time.
Albuquerque and state police say 56-year-old Dale Lusian was breaking into cars when he hid in the container. They sent a police dog that was shot three times.
They were on the scene for more than four hours, throwing in several rounds of gas, a flashbang, a chemical grenade, and eventually fired rubber bullets. One broke the already-dead suspect's eye socket.
APD spokesman Tanner Tixier said the suspect shot himself and the police K-9 with a stolen gun.
Council Approves Contract For Independent Police Monitor – The Associated Press
Albuquerque council members aren't blocking a $4.5 million contract that appoints James Ginger to independently oversee police force reforms for four years.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the council voted 6-2 Monday to acknowledge a court order to establish the monitor's office, but Councilor Don Harris said he thought it inappropriate that the man appointed to the task has yet to attend a meeting to answer questions.
The justice department reached the agreement with the city last year in light of a federal investigation that showed the Albuquerque Police Department had a pattern of using force and violating people's rights.
Albuquerque Council Weighs Police Chief Selection Proposal - The Associated Press
Albuquerque voters could decide whether city councilors have more say in the hiring and firing of the police and fire chiefs under a proposal considered by the City Council.
The panel discussed the proposal at its meeting Monday. It is expected to take a vote on it next month. If approved, the measure would be placed on the October ballot.
The proposal comes as Albuquerque works to reform its troubled police department.
The city and the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to a settlement after a scathing federal report last year outlined a pattern of excessive force by police.
According to the report, officers too frequently used deadly force on people who posed a minimal threat and used a higher level of force too often on those with mental illness.
Law Journal Publishes Special Issue Examining 'Breaking Bad' – The Associated Press
A University of New Mexico School of Law student journal has published a special issue analyzing legal issues related to the story line of AMC-TV's "Breaking Bad."
An edition of the New Mexico Law Review released this week looks at the war on drugs, the hypothetical arrest of Walter White, and questionable practices of defense lawyer Saul Goodman.
Editor Matthew Zidovsky says students wanted to use the fictional hit television series to discuss serious legal issues like the Fourth Amendment and professional lawyer ethics.
"Breaking Bad" follows former high school teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, producing methamphetamine with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.
Bob Odenkirk plays sleazy attorney Saul Goodman, who defends drug lords, criminals and those allegedly injured in minor traffic accidents.
New Mexico Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch Draw Ire From Neighbors - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
Corn mazes might be fun for kids, but neighbors' complaints about one in Corrales may put it out of business.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the Village Planning and Zoning Commission denied the owners of the property's request for a special use permit that would have allowed them to operate their annual corm maze and pumpkin patch.
The zoning commission ruled in June 2014 that the corn maze and the additional activities were not compliant with the agricultural zoning and asked the family to apply for a special use permit on the property.
Last year neighbors filed complaints about noise and traffic. Rozanne Wagner, one of the owners, said this is the first year they've had to apply for a permit.
Clovis Man In New Solitary Confinement Lawsuit - The Associated Press
A lawsuit says a Clovis man with schizophrenia was placed in a Curry County solitary confinement cell without medical treatment for seven months.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court this month claims Alejandro Romero, Jr., was tossed in an isolated cell in 2012 following his arrest for misdemeanor criminal damage to property of a household member.
But according to court documents, Curry County Detention Center guards failed to provide Romero with proper treatment. As a result, the lawsuit says Romero's health deteriorated so bad that he smeared feces all over his cell.
Court documents say Romero was given proper care only after seven months and his charge was dropped.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
Curry County Manager Lance Pyle did not immediately return an email from The Associated Press.
Ted Turner Ranch In New Mexico Caught In Wolf Debate - The Associated Press
A sprawling ranch in southern New Mexico owned by media mogul Ted Turner is caught in the middle of a dispute between the state and federal wildlife officials over management of the Mexican gray wolf.
A bid by the Ladder Ranch to renew its permit for holding wolves in captivity on the private property was recently denied by the state Game Commission, triggering calls for Gov. Susana Martinez to reverse the decision.
A rally is planned Tuesday at the capitol.
Commissioners have said they couldn't approve the permit, citing the failure by the federal government to update a decades-old recovery plan for the wolves.
Officials with the Turner Endangered Species Fund say they're disappointed with the commission's decision and that tightening the screw on the ranch won't lead to a new recovery plan.
Grants Woman Gets Prison Term For Heroin, Meth Sentence - The Associated Press
A Grants woman has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for heroin and methamphetamine trafficking.
Prosecutors say 53-year-old Rachel Chavez Basurto received a 51-month sentence Monday followed by three years of supervised release.
She also was ordered to pay a fine of more than $13,000.
According to court filings, Basurto was arrested in March 2013 after authorities executed a consensual search of her home.
They reported seizing about 94 net grams of heroin, 11 1/2 grams of actual methamphetamine, drug trafficking paraphernalia and more than $28,000 in cash.
Basurto was indicted and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Prosecutors say Basurto entered a guilty plea in March 2014 without the benefit of a plea agreement.
Court Upholds Convictions, Sentence In Navajo Nation Case - The Associated Press
A court has upheld a man's convictions and sentences stemming from the death of a man and the wounding of two other people in a 2010 shooting on the Navajo Nation.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday in the case of Clay O'Brien Mann, who was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison on convictions of involuntary manslaughter and assault.
The victims were attending a small nighttime gathering near Shiprock on July 24, 2010.
Authorities said Mann threw a lit fireworks shell into or near a campfire on his neighbor's property and then fatally shot Ames Joseph Jim. Another man was shot in the face, and a woman was shot in the neck.
Albuquerque Police Trying To Locate Stabbing Victim - The Associated Press
Albuquerque police say they have located a suspect but not the victim in a reported stabbing.
According to police, personnel in the department's Real Time Crime Center saw the stabbing occur while viewing a traffic camera.
Police say patrol officers were provided a description and direction of travel of the offender and took one person into custody.
However, the victim left the scene at Eighth Street Southwest and Bridge Boulevard, and police are trying to locate him.
Albuquerque Police: Missing Girl Returned To Her Mother - The Associated Press
Albuquerque police say a 6-year-old girl who was reported missing is back with her mother.
Police say the father of Arianna Lopez turned her over to police Sunday night and that police subsequently returned the girl to her mother.
Police had said previously that Abelino Lopez took Arianna Lopez from Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on May 9. The father then surrendered to authorities but the whereabouts of the girl remained unknown.
An attorney for the mother has said a judge previously ordered the father to not have contact with the girl under he underwent a psychological evaluation.
Court records state Arianna's mother and father filed for divorce in 2010 and have been fighting for custody over their two children ever since.
Police now plan to interview the girl.