Courts

Former Bernalillo County Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations

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FBI News:

WASHINGTON—Demetrio Juan Gonzales, 40, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for violating the civil rights of an individual in his custody when he struck and choked the victim in the shower room/dress-out area of MDC. Gonzales pleaded guilty in October 2012.

According to court documents, during the early morning hours of December 21, 2011, Gonzales was assigned to the Receiving-Discharge-Transfer Read More

Local Trial Set For Anti-Nuclear Protestors

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LANL 6 protestors Cathie Sullivan, Wind Euler, Janet Greenwald, Benjamin (Summer) Abbott, Barbara Grothus and Pam Gilchrist. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

 

Staff Report

 

Trial is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9 for six protestors arrested during last year’s Hiroshima Day demonstration at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

 

The trial will be heard by Judge Alan Kirk in Los Alamos Municipal Court, 2500 Trinity Dr., in Los Alamos.

 
Police arrested the six protestors Aug. 6 on LANL property and charged them with criminal trespass, refusing to obey an officer
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County’s Insurance Carrier Settles Lawsuit

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Staff Report
 
Los Alamos County’s insurance carrier, the New Mexico Self-Insurer’s Fund, has settled a lawsuit filed by a former Parks and Recreation Department employee.
 
Melody Cross, a senior office specialist with the Parks Department filed the lawsuits in First Judicial District Court against Los Alamos County, Parks Manager Richard McIntyre and Parks Department employee Randy Lucero.
 
Cross charged the defendents with infliction of emotional distress, battery, punitive damages and prima facie tort, a term used in modern legal English to signify that
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NMOHVA Files Lawsuit Against Santa Fe National Forest Travel Management Decision

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NMOHVA News:

The New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA) filed a lawsuit against the Santa Fe National Forest Dec. 11 in Federal District Court.

The lawsuit contests the Forest’s Travel Management decision signed by Forest Supervisor Maria T. Garcia June 12 and upheld by the Region 3 Appeal Deciding Officer Oct. 2.  

Filing a lawsuit is a major commitment of NMOHVA’s time and money. The NMOHVA Board thought long and hard about this and then voted unanimously to go ahead with legal action.

“NMOHVA filed this lawsuit on the behalf of our members but it really Read More

Man Who Shot Crop Duster Plane Pleads Guilty

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Crop duster plane. Courtesy photo

FBI News:

Weilding a Ruger Number One 25-06 caliber single shot rifle with a Redfield scope, James R. Cate, 68, shot a crop duster plane as it flew over a field neighboring his land near Talpa, Texas dusting crops last February.

Before he actually shot the aircraft, Cate fired three rounds from the rifle into the air, according to documents filed in the case.

Cate admits that he threatened the aircraft to frighten the pilot away from his crops.

The last round that Cate fired hit the propeller of the aircraft, penetrated the engine cowling traveling toward the rear Read More

Picuris Pueblo Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $132,000

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in federal court in Albuquerque, Norma Mermejo, 61, a member and resident of Picuris Pueblo, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging her with embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization.

U.S. Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Mermejo pled guilty to embezzling approximately $132,000 belonging to Picuris Pueblo between February 2008 and April 2010.

At the time, Mermejo was employed as a file clerk in the Pueblo’s accounting office. Picuris Pueblo terminated her employment in April 2010, when Pueblo officials learned of her unlawful activities. Read More

Municipal Court Closed Sept. 26 to 28

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MUNICIPAL COURT News:

The Los Alamos Municipal Court Clerk’s Office will be closed Sept. 26, 27 and 28 to allow staff to attend training.

Payments due during this period may be mailed to Los Alamos Municipal Court, 2500 Trinity Dr, Ste C, Los Alamos, NM 87544.

Some payments may be paid online at www.citepayusa.com. 

The Court Clerk’s Office will re-open at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1.

Courtesy photo Read More

First of Six LANL Protesters Set to Face Judge

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Los Alamos National Laboratory protesters from left, Catherine Euler, Cathie Sullivan, Janet Greenwald, Benjamin (Summer) Abbott, Barbara Grothus and Pamela Gilchrist following their release from the Los Alamos County Detention Center Aug. 6 after being issued criminal citations to appear in court. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

 

Editor’s Note Sept. 17: Due to a scheduling conflict, the hearing has been postponed. A new date has not been set yet.  

 

Staff report

 

The first of six protesters arrested Aug. 6 during an anti-nuke
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‘Scale of Justice’ Sculpture Installed at Justice Center

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“Scale of Justice” sculpture by Troy Williams of Jemez Springs. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Staff report

The “Scale of Justice” sculpture created by Jemez Springs artist Troy Williams was installed today in front of the Justice Center at 2500 Trinity Dr. 

The Arts in Public Places Board (APPB) and Los Alamos County plan to hold an official dedication of the sculpture at 3 p.m., Aug. 22.

This sculpture displays 12 jurors from all walks of life, based on actual community members. They are made of steel as is the scale on which they stand.

The APPB distributed Read More

Los Alamos Municipal Court Closed July 18-20

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The Los Alamos Municipal Court will be closed July 18, 19 and 20 for staff to attend training.  

Payments due during this period may be mailed to Los Alamos Municipal Court, 2500 Trinity Dr, Ste C, Los Alamos, NM 87544 or some payments may be paid online at https:////www.citepayusa.com/. 

The Court will re-open at 8 a.m., Monday July 23. Read More