According to his lawsuit, the file Aquino gave the Attorney Generals Office in late May 2019 concerned an investigation he began earlier that year into county Public Works personnel, including an allegation that county Public Works employee Jacob Montoya used a county credit card for personal expenses. But an ABC15 investigation found Superiors police force was filled with discredited cops, who were enabled by a broken Brady list system that let them escape lasting accountability and kept past transgressions hidden from disclosure. However, he isn't necessarily remembered for his improvements, as Agnos was blamed for the flaws in the investigation of theBuddhist temple murders. 7 were here. APS board begrudgingly approves one charter school, denies another. By clicking submit, you agree to receive The Paper by email. A. Casados ruled there was no probable cause for the charges. The earliest many Arizona counties began keeping Brady lists was around 20 years ago. [Aquino] wants to win a lawsuit Im sure, but all of that is false., Danny Garcia said his front yard is paved, but that wasnt done by the county, that was done by myself.. Dude, I understand but can I, can I, maybe someone else, put, like, behind the wheel? Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, whose two criminal trials were already moved to Santa Fe County, will have the cases heard by Santa Fe County jurors, a judge ruled Thursday. We never charge for local news. During the two-day trial, Bowles highlighted parts of the prosecutions case and witness testimony that were inconsistent. You should totally be expected to be at a higher standard, if you want that job, you know what I mean.. Trujillo faces charges of Criminal Solicitation to Commit Aggravated Assault upon a Peace Officer with a deadly weapon after he allegedly ordered deputies to draw their guns at Espaola Police & Taos County Sheriffs Deputies as they served a search warrant for Lujans mobile phone in May 2020. The most remembered incident during William Henry Wilky's term in office, from 1917 to 1918, was the last recorded lynching in Arizona. 'I'm also a police officer': Arizona sheriff's deputy pleads for release after being pulled over for DUI. Click here to see full coverage. The Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office is committed to working in a problem-solving partnership. Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputy Joseph Aquino gets into an altercation with George Vigil, an employee at Family Dollar in Chimay, in March 2019. Not at all, Peterson said. That doesnt even make sense, that somebody would literally tell somebody else 30 times not to say something, Bowles said during his opening arguments. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Finally his reign of power, control and corruption will end. He argued "there are significant differences between persons residing in Santa Fe County and those residing in Rio Arriba county," and that using only jurors from Santa Fe County would result in a jury pool "comprised of members vastly disproportionate to that of Mr. Lujan's peers.". He was sentenced to three years in prison and 1 and a half years of probation. In an interview, Napoleon Garcia said Friday the allegations in Aquinos lawsuit are false and absurd.. The Family Dollar incident, Trujillo continued, was the last straw.. ESPAOLA, N.M.(KRQE) A New Mexico sheriff will serve three years in prison for helping his friend evade police. Behind the wheel?" SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin was found not guilty Wednesday of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register House approves retail crime bill that could lead to Amid a recent rise in retail theft, a bill giving prosecutors the ability to charge individuals convicted of stealing large amounts of merchandise from I-40 westbound closed overnight in Gallup; storm headed to New Mexico is shutting down Interstate New Mexico is shutting down Interstate 40 westbound in Gallup in response to a winter storm in Arizona. During this time he considered sending juveniles toCoconino County and having female prisoners housed in Phoenix. His trial in June was the first she presided over. Serving from 1901 to 1902, Samuel Stout wasalso amember of the Salt River Water Users Association, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. At the time Saucedo said he overheard those words, Lujan was allegedly helping Chacon evade Espaola police. Invalid password or account does not exist. In that case, he is facing three counts of resisting, obstructing or evading an officer stemming from an incident in March 2020. Navarrette told the news station that he did not want to make a statement at this time. They had my arms. I hope the citizens of Rio Arriba can rebuild their faith in the Rio Arriba Sheriffs Office under new leadership., She added: Most importantly, I want to thank the Espaola Police Department for their continued support in the prosecution of all these matters. Aquinos lawsuit says he had worked at the department for six years before the incident, had never been accused of improper use of force and received a Medal of Valor from the department in 2018. This happens to people every day and they dont do nothing about it, Peterson said. Former Rio Arriba County sheriff, serving prison term, pleads no contest in second case. View property records for 86 addresses located on Cochiti Street NE in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, including property ownership, deeds, mortgages, titles & sales history, current & historic tax assessments, legal, parcel & structure description, land use, zoning & more. By Phaedra Haywood This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Navarrette said. Lujans Attorney Jason Bowles says he plans to appeal. In addition to working at KSFR, Gino is a freelance photojournalist and can also be heard providing play-by-play commentary for the NA3HL New Mexico Ice Wolves. This Rio Arriba County New Mexico Most Wanted List posts the top 50-100 fugitive criminals on the run. Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. I am happy these proceedings against James Lujan are complete, Reeb wrote in a message following the hearing. Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. She previously reported for the Rio Grande Sun. She has been the only woman to be sheriff in Maricopa County. In March of last year, Lujan showed up drunk at a crime scene, again involving Phil Chacon, and refused to leave. The Garcias also are among the defendants. Officer Ensley and a reserve officer found Maughn at a gas station the next day. Aquinos complaint says he believed Napoleon Garcia and Montoya were attempting to conceal and tamper with evidence related to the crash that damaged the vehicle. Dedicating my life as a law enforcement officer I believe youre expected to be held to a higher standard, especially if you are the sheriff of the third-largest county in the state, Saucedo said after the trial. McGarry Ellenwood was appointed to the District Court bench in July 2020, less than a year before Lujan's trial. Please reload the page and try again. He said taxpayer resources are going into this case and he doesnt believe theres any basis to retry the case. Still, he was repeatedly elected. However, Volkmer said the officers unnecessarily escalated the situation and wished they would have handled it differently. The officers from the other agencies were trying to confiscate Lujans cellphone at the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Espaola, after charges were filed against him. Lujan is facing felony charges of bribery of a witness and harboring or aiding a felon. Not anymore. Former Rio Arriba County sheriff's Deputy Joseph Aquino has filed a whistleblower lawsuit that claims he was fired on a trumped-up charge of excessive use of force after uncovering . I could not have successfully prosecuted these matters without their help and support.. Retired Phoenix police Sgt. Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan, right, and one of his attorneys Nathaniel Thompkins talk in the courtroom in Tierra Amarilla during the first day of his trial. Espaola police arrested Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan on Thursday and charged him with two counts of obstructing an officer after he failed to comply with a search warrant for his. His investigation revealed Montoya failed to report a crash that damaged his county-issued vehicle, electing instead to have it repaired at a private shop in Chimay though the repair bill was sent to the county, his lawsuit says. After being appointed to complete Thomas Warden's term, Thomas Hayes was elected and served from 1872 to 1874. Lujan turned in his resignation following the verdict. There are twice as many people living in poverty in Rio Arriba County as in Santa Fe County, Bowles added. There was nothing I could do.. Newly obtained body camera video captured an Arizona sheriff's deputy using a racial slur and pleading to be let off the hook after an officer pulled him over in December on . For instance, Bowles read Lattins statement from the cases preliminary hearing, in which Lattin said he wasnt aware of Chacons charges the night of the incident. Serving from 1939 to 1944, Lon Jordan was a popular sheriff in the three terms he served, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. According to Clays affidavit, Lujan later told her: We are going to send [Aquino] to anger management class and use of force training., Romero said in an affidavit dated Aug. 6, 2020, that Terrance Garcia at the time, a police officer in Cuba threatened to retaliate against him to prevent him from sharing damaging information Garcia had shared about his family and officials in Rio Arriba County regarding a scheme to frame Mr. Aquino., Romeros affidavit says Garcia said the plot against Aquino was related to his investigation of embezzlement and misuse of County property., The affidavit also says that after Aquino applied for a job with Cuba police, Garcia tried to sway him against hiring Aquino by bragging about his familys political pull in Rio Arriba County.. From 1881 to 1884 and from 1895 to 1898, Lindely Orme served four terms as Maricopa County sheriff, with 10 years between his second and third terms. This was the same day Lattin testified at Lujans preliminary hearing. The Towns former police chief referred to the Towns police department as an, island of misfit toys because it is a second-chance agency hiring officers with extensive misconduct records who cannot otherwise get jobs as police officers, the lawsuit states. Clint Peterson also sued and already won a settlement. Moore served from 1925 to 1926, and was a policeman as well as city marshal before becoming sheriff, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. Jefferson Davis Adams was the first Maricopa County sheriff, serving three terms from 1912 to 1916 as well as finishing Jerry Sullivan's term after his death. Lujan resigned earlier this month after his conviction. Under the terms of Lujans agreement with 9th Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb, a special prosecutor in the case, state District Judge Bryan Biedscheid sentenced Lujan to 364 days on the misdemeanor count of resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, Reeb confirmed after the hearing Wednesday. @Copwatchtv obtained lapel footage from different officers of a March 26th, 2020 incident, Espaola Police and New Mexico State Police were executing a sear. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. The incident began when he came to the station to pick up a friend, named Aaron Maughn, who had been arrested hours earlier for drinking in public. Rio Rancho. During his time in office, Blubaum made controversial moves as he did not hire many compensated deputies during his term. He said Lujan was just doing his job as a sheriff and Chacon was arrested the next day without incident. However, on the witness stand Wednesday, Lattin said he did know the charges that night, and blamed the inconsistencies in his statements on his memory. The jury was split 8-4, with the majority believing Lujan was innocent on both counts, said defense attorney Jason Bowles. The fact that youre telling me that tells me you shouldnt be an officer," the officer said. Police were likely agitated with Peterson because of what his friend had done the night before. From 1985-88 Richard Godbehere held office, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police, and was most notably in office when Madison Street Jail and Southeast Jail opened. Lattin was one of the officers who pursued Chacon during the chase. The jurors felt their conversations could be heard by people outside the courtroom. It was Officer Richard Mueller, whos worked for four different law enforcement agencies. The complaint, filed last month in state District Court, reads like a whos who of Rio Arriba County officials and includes allegations of bribes, threats, personal use of public resources and nepotism. One of the key officers in Peterson's arrest was Christian Ensley. Rio Arriba County Seat: 149 State Rd. Lujan helped his friend and former city councilor Phil Chacon hideout in 2017 after being involved in a chase with police. He started construction on Madison Street Jail. You dont think its gonna put mine at risk if I dont do this? the officer replied. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Local News. However, a new jail was built, and the conflict was resolved. He was, however, elected the following yearfor the 1926-27 term. He founded the Sheriffs Peace Officers Police Training School, and afterinitially becoming deputy in 1930 he had served in every department by the time he was sheriff. His son also became sheriff two years after Montgomery'sdeath in 1919, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Trujillo faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Clays affidavit concerns Aquinos claim that Lujan downplayed the altercation between the deputy and Vigil before using it as the basis to fire him. You have permission to edit this article. He is charged in that case with three counts of resisting or obstructing an officer for refusing to turn over his cellphone to officers investigating the incident involving Chacon. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, INTERACTIVE RADAR: Tracking winter storm in Arizona. Among these complaints, Aquino said, included a quid pro quo involving Rio Arriba County Commissioner Danny Garcia and his nephew, Napoleon Garcia, that included allegations of an unjustified raise for Napoleon Garcia and paving work done at Danny Garcias front yard and at Napoleon Garcias family ranch. We hope the prosecutor will go back and decide not to retry it.. He believes the entire department needs to be shut down with the towns law enforcement responsibilities taken over by the county sheriff. Manriquezs attorneys also claim Officer Ensley used false and misleading information to obtain a search warrant of his home by claiming it was the primary residence of his nephew, John Soriano. N----, Im from Arizona dude. Utah DNR suggests this tasty invasive species, New Mexico man sentenced for trafficking meth, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, Winning culture reestablished at Albuquerque Academy, APD prevents concerning person from buying firearm, Albuquerque launches lowrider bike club for students, Bernalillo Co. awarded millions for Coors safety, Bill looks to raise salaries of judges in New Mexico, New Mexico Gas Company explains high winter gas bills, National TV show to highlight Albuquerque, Albuquerque man sentenced for rape, murder of fianc, New project aims to speed Rail Runner routes in ABQ, APD needs help solving killing of Albuquerque woman, Winter storm arrives, bringing messy travel into, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. The Rio Arriba County Commission on Dec. 6 appointed then Maj. Billy Merrifield a seven-year veteran of the sheriffs office to fill Lujans post until the voters chose a new sheriff in 2023. Choose wisely! How much have you had to drink tonight? the officer asked. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A man of firsts, George Mowry was the first sheriff to serve two consecutive terms, which he did from 1875 to 1878. He was also afarmer, surveyor, lawyer, district attorney, probate judge and postmaster. phaywood@sfnewmexican.com, Newly elected Santa Fe County magistrate arrested on DWI charge, Police: Walmart shooting suspect's case dismissed under DA's DWI policy, Santa Fe Bite has new owners, but old owners remain on board, Another troubled Espaola complex teeters, Accused judge removed from bench in wake of DWI charge, Longtime weatherman forecasts a new life outside TV, Concerns crop up about old assault charges against Indian Affairs appointee, Yo, Governor: You're not paying for the highways, Farmer switching crops: No green in chile anymore, Predictions: Horsemen go all the way; Demons upset everyone, Volunteer adopts dog who struggled to find permanent home, Peacenik vs. secretive senator for Capitol dishonor. The issue is that the prosecutors who keep them have no requirement to share that information with AZPOST, which is the organization that would decertify problematic officers, said Jared Keenan, a former defense attorney now with the ACLU Arizona. He is also accused of three counts of resisting, obstructing or evading an officer in a related case pertaining to his arrest in the first case for failing to unlock a cellphone for police to review. She said that after a chase of former Espaola city councilor Phillip Chacon whom Lujan is accused of harboring and aiding Espaola police officer Ernest Saucedo allegedly overheard a phone conversation between Lujan and another officer during which Lujan reportedly said, dont (expletive) tell anyone where were at or what were doing., Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. I never really spoke to him expect for hello, so anything that he says about me or allegations on me are not true because I only know of him is the videos from the family dollar store, he wrote. Trujillo is accused of ordering deputies to draw their firearms against officers from the Espaola Police Department and the Taos County Sheriffs Office, who were attempting to execute a search warrant on Trujillos then boss, Sheriff James Lujan. Despite efforts by the defense to convince jurors that Lujan didnt know that Chacon would be charged with fleeing Espaola police, or that he was concerned for public safety following a high-speed chase, the jury found him guilty on both counts. Reeb filed the motions following the mistrial in Tierra Amarilla, arguing in part that as the elected sheriff of the county, Lujan held too much influence over its residents for jurors there to be impartial. Lujans trial is scheduled to continue through Thursday. 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