Trial Set For Former New Mexico Athletic Director – Associated Press
Former University of New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs will stand trial on embezzlement and other charges next year.
A state district judge on Thursday scheduled Kreb's trial for October 2020. Attorneys say the proceedings could last three weeks.
An indictment filed in August charges Krebs with embezzlement for using $24,500 in public money to pay for three people not affiliated with the university to go on a lavish golf trip. He's also charged with lesser embezzlement counts, larceny and tampering.
Prosecutors allege Krebs bypassed university oversight, deleted records and tried to cover up the spending by reimbursing the university for part of the 2015 trip.
Krebs' attorney Paul Kennedy said he's confident his client will be vindicated by a jury.
Krebs served as athletic director from 2006 to 2017.
Joe Wilson, Skeptic On Iraq War Intelligence, Dies At Age 69 – Associated Press
The former ambassador who disputed U.S. intelligence on Iraq that was used to justify going to war has died. Joseph Wilson was 69.
Wilson's ex-wife Valerie Plame confirmed in a text message that Wilson died Friday of organ failure in Santa Fe. She called him a "patriot" with "the heart of a lion."
Wilson traveled to Niger to investigate allegations Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein tried to purchase uranium and later alleged that the
administration of President George W. Bush twisted prewar intelligence on Iraq to justify war.
Subsequently, Plame's identity as a CIA operative was leaked in a scandal that led to the conviction of vice presidential aide Scooter B. Libby for lying to investigators and justice obstruction.
President Donald Trump pardoned Libby in 2018.
New Mexico Judge Releases Man After Court Evidence Violation – Associated Press
A Santa Fe judge has released a Native American man from jail pending trial as a sanction against state prosecutors for violating evidence rules.
Authorities say 43-year-old Redwolf Pope was charged with kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration and voyeurism after accusations that he raped a woman in 2017 and recorded the incident.
A defense attorney says he never received a search warrant affidavit that was used to obtain suspected digital evidence showing Pope having sex with unconscious women.
Prosecutors say the defense was provided with digital photos of the affidavit instead of paper copies.
Pope was held in the Santa Fe County jail since last September and was released on $2,500 unsecured appearance bond.
The judge says sanctions like having the case dismissed or suppressing the digital evidence would be too strong.
Albuquerque Steps Up Security At Upcoming Balloon Fiesta – Associated Press
Albuquerque is stepping up security at its annual Balloon Fiesta, a nine-day event scheduled to begin Oct. 5.
Officials said the event is adding metal detectors at entrances, having more stations for bag checks and involving more law enforcement agencies deploying uniformed officers, tactical teams and plain-clothed officers.
The announcement said the enhanced security would "provide an environment where guests can enjoy the event with greater peace of mind."
The event features liftoffs of hundreds of balloons from Balloon Fiesta Park.
Officials suggested that visitors wanting to clear security checks faster limit how many items they take to the park and carry personal items in see-through containers.
Airspace within a 4-mile radius of the park is controlled by a temporary flight restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Mom Of 2017 School Shooting Victim Sues Over Sex Abuse Claim – Associated Press
The mother of the teenage girl killed in a 2017 high school shooting is suing the school district over allegations a teacher sexually harassed and abused her daughter.
The Farmington Daily Times reports Jamie Lattin, the mother of Casey Marquez, filed a lawsuit last week in state district court against the Aztec Municipal School District Board of Education and Superintendent Kirk Carpenter citing negligence.
Former Aztec High School teacher James Coulter is facing two felony counts of criminal sexual contact with another 17-year-old student.
The lawsuit says Coulter also sent Marquez inappropriate text messages.
Carpenter declined to comment. Board President Roger Collins did not immediately return a phone message.
Students Marquez and Francisco Fernandez were killed in December 2017 after a gunman walked onto campus and started shooting.
Group Seeks To Limit Scope Of Tree-Cutting Ban - Associated Press
An environmental group is seeking to limit the scope of a court order that bans tree cutting across national forests in New Mexico and one in Arizona.
District Judge Raner Collins earlier this month sidelined timber management projects on the forests until federal agencies can get a better handle on the population of the threatened Mexican spotted owl.
The U.S. Forest Service said Thursday it has suspended permits for firewood cutting that many residents in rural areas rely on to heat their homes.
WildEarth Guardians has asked the court to modify the tree-cutting ban to exclude firewood permits for personal use.
The Forest Service said it would agree.
It's unclear when the judge will rule on the motion.
In the meantime, residents are looking for other firewood options.
6 Forests Halt Tree-Cutting Activities Due To Order On Owls - Associated Press
Six national forests in New Mexico and Arizona have suspended firewood collection permit sales, timber sales, thinning and prescribed burns because of a federal court order related to a threatened owl.
A Forest Service statement released Thursday says the affected forests include all five in New Mexico and Tonto National Forest in Arizona.
U.S. District Judge Raner Collins' Sept. 11 order halted tree-cutting activities on the six forests until federal agencies get a better handle on how to monitor the population of the Mexican spotted owl and its habitat.
Collins' order didn't define timber management activities, only saying they cause irreparable harm and include timber harvesting.
The Forest Service said it may be able to provide people who collect wood for fuel with potential alternative options in their areas.
Santa Fe Cited For 7 Safety Violations After Worker's Death - Associated Press
The New Mexico Environment Department has cited Santa Fe for seven safety violations after a city employee died in an accident five months ago.
The department has proposed civil penalties of nearly $184,000 for the violations.
The April 1 accident occurred at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center as a maintenance worker was replacing interior lighting fixtures.
The man working from a scissor lift came in contact with a 277-volt circuit.
The Environment Department cited the city for failure to properly train employees in electrical safe work practices, failure to institute safe procedures and failure to properly de-energize, lock out and verify de-energization of the circuits.
Santa Fe is required to correct the violations or notify the department's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau if it intends to contest the citations.
More Than Dozen Charged In New Mexico Rape Kit Backlog Cases – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
New Mexico authorities have charged over a dozen people after prosecutors began clearing thousands of backlogged rape cases.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that 16 Albuquerque rape cases have been filed stretching from 2010 to 2017.
Authorities say one man started his sentence, another is awaiting sentencing, two are on the loose and a dozen are headed to trial.
Authorities say the current cases include charges of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual penetration of a minor, aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Authorities say a 2016 report drew attention to about 5,400 rape kits that had been collected but never processed, about 4,000 were from Albuquerque.
Court officials say thousands of cases were closed because of expired statute of limitations, lack of sufficient evidence, no DNA or someone had passed away.
New Mexico College Board Votes To Allow Armed Security - Roswell Daily Record, Associated Press
A New Mexico community college board has voted to approve a request to allow armed security on the school campus.
The Roswell Daily Record reported Wednesday that Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell community college board voted 5-0 Wednesday to allow some officers to carry firearms.
Campus security head Brad McFadin says the request gives officers another option and tool to enhance security.
Authorities say officers who did not want to carry firearms could receive training on how to use non-lethal devices such as batons, tasers or pepper spray.
Campus authorities say they have encountered people with dangerous weapons on the campus despite state law prohibiting firearms at New Mexico universities.
Board officials say the transition could cost more than $270,000 initially with estimated $7,000 recurring costs a year.
High-Flying Marijuana Vapes Take Hit From Health Scare - By Gillian Flaccus And Jennifer Peltz Associated Press
Vaping products are taking a hit as health experts scramble to determine what's causing a mysterious lung disease.
More than 500 people have gotten ill, and nine have died after vaping.
Vaping products have been one of the fastest-growing segments of the United States' legal marijuana industry. But the scare caused a 15% decline in market share for vapes.
Industry analyst firm New Frontier Data says states like New Mexico and Oregon saw more than a 60% drop in vape market share.
Experts say the crisis won't stop marijuana legalization but will mean tighter regulation overall.
Public health officials haven't pinpointed any one substance or product that's to blame.
Many patients say they used vapes containing marijuana oil, but some patients say they smoked nicotine-only vapes.