Albuquerque Homicides Increase By 35 Percent In 2015 – The Associated Press
A crime wave in New Mexico's largest city brought a rise in homicides in 2015, with early figures showing the number of killings in Albuquerque increased by about 35 percent from the previous year.
Albuquerque police say preliminary figures for 2015 show that they investigated at least 46 homicides. It's the highest number of homicides the city has seen since 2009, when FBI statistics show there were 56 in Albuquerque.
In 2014, FBI figures show there were 30 reported homicide cases in Albuquerque, while the overall violent crime rate jumped from 7.75 crimes per 1,000 residents in 2013 to 8.83.
Mayor Richard Berry has repeatedly attributed a recent rise in violent crime in Albuquerque to career criminals who authorities say return to the streets after serving sentences for prior offenses.
New Year's Eve Drunken Driving Checkpoint Only Nets 1 Arrest – The Associated Press
While many in Albuquerque may have celebrated the new year, police made few arrests for drunken driving.
KRQE-TV reports that the Albuquerque Police Department made only one arrest at their checkpoint near I-25. Overall, only 11 people were booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center for drunken driving offenses after midnight on New Year's Eve.
Police say most intoxicated people who passed through their checkpoint were in the passenger seat.
A total of 149 vehicles passed through the checkpoint.
Suspect Still At Large, 3-Year-Old Albuquerque Girl Found Safe After Carjacking – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Police continue to look for a suspect who they say drove off with a 3-year-old in a stolen car outside an Albuquerque grocery store on Saturday night.
The suspect is described as Hispanic, between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9 and with short brown hair.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Caraline Leon-Alcocar was found in an empty parking lot around 1 a.m. Sunday.
Police spokesman Daren DeAguero says the girl was "very cold and very scared" but otherwise unharmed. She was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Police say the child's mother had stopped to fill water jugs outside the grocery store around 8:30 p.m. when a male suspect drove off in the running car with Caraline buckled up inside.
DeAguero says police found the car first but she was not inside.
AG Calls For State To Release Names Of Marijuana Producers – The Associated Press
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says health officials would be running afoul of open record laws by withholding the names of those who apply to be licensed medical marijuana producers in the state.
Balderas has sent a letter to the state Department of Health in response to proposed confidentiality changes.
A public hearing on the changes is scheduled Wednesday in Santa Fe.
While the names of licensed producers would become public, Balderas is concerned about a provision that would allow for the names of those vying for licenses to remain secret during the application period.
Confidentiality surrounding producers was challenged last year in a lawsuit by freelance journalist Peter St. Cyr and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.
They say the agency was violating the state's public records law by keeping the names secret.
New Mexico Proposals Take Aim At Chronic Drunken Driving – The Associated Press
Lawmakers in New Mexico are proposing a series of new criminal penalties for repeat drunken driving offenses.
Legislators on Monday introduced three bills that would increase jail time and trigger other felony sanctions against drunken drivers under existing New Mexico laws for habitual offenders.
One bill proposes increased penalties for those who lend their car to someone whose license has been revoked or suspended because of a prior DWI offense.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has voiced support for tougher laws to discourage repeat DWI offenses ahead of this month's legislative session.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez says the state already has some of the toughest drunken driving laws in the nation and he has accused the governor of trying to distract voters from issues of poverty.
Film Industry Town Hall To Be Held Friday In Las Cruces – The Associated Press
A town hall meeting is scheduled Friday in Las Cruces about the New Mexico film industry.
New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis also will discuss the state of the film industry and opportunities available to state residents.
The meetings are intended to provide an open forum for each community to share information about local activity such as educational programs and film related business as well as relaying any issues of concern.
The town hall will be held at the historic Rio Grande Theatre.
The event is free and open to students, local filmmakers, businesses and the general public.
Navajo Nation Probationary Judge Convicted Of Abusing Post – The Associated Press
A Navajo Nation judge faces up to six months in jail after being found guilty of abusing his position.
The late December conviction of Roy Tso Jr. came months after a bench trial in tribal court. Prosecutors had alleged that Tso improperly interfered in a burglary investigation involving his relatives in 2013.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 4.
Prosecutor Richard Wade says he'll seek the maximum penalty of six months in jail on the misdemeanor conviction.
Tso's attorney, Judy Apachee, says no factual basis exists for the judge's ruling and plans an appeal to the tribe's high court.
Tso was a tribal prosecutor before being confirmed as a probationary judge for the Kayenta district in February 2013. He was placed on leave in October that year amid allegations of wrongdoing.
New Lawsuit Brings Litigation Cases Against Doctor To 15 – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A former New Mexico prison doctor accused of sexually assaulting inmates during exams is the subject of another lawsuit, bringing the number of litigation cases against him to 15.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a Guadalupe County Correctional Facility inmate says Dr. Mark Walden fondled him. The inmate filed a lawsuit in federal court last month.
Nearly 80 inmates from two state prisons say Walden victimized them or failed to give adequate medical care.
The inmate in the latest case says he didn't come forward sooner because he was embarrassed and was afraid of possible retaliation.
Walden's attorney said in an answer filed in one of the civil cases that Walden denies sexually abusing inmates, and that his conduct was at no time unreasonable, cruel or harmful.
State Looks For Location For Children Needing Foster Care – Albuquerque Journal
The state Children Youth and Families Department is looking for a location for a center to house children while they are being placed in foster care.
The Albuquerque Journal reports children sometimes spend the night in CYFD offices while department staff work to find foster families for the kids.
Department officials are exploring whether to buy or lease a property in Bernalillo County for a Child Wellness Center that would serve children during their first 48 hours in custody.
CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobsen says the facility would also allow her department to bring other organizations that serve children under the same roof.
A plan to buy a property in southeast Albuquerque recently stalled after it was sold to another buyer for a fraction of what the state had planned to pay.
Albuquerque Man Accused Of Putting Infant In Choke Hold – The Associated Press & KOB
An Albuquerque man is accused of putting his infant within inches of a ceiling fan and then in a chokehold.
KOB-TV reports that Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies arrested 32-year-old Benny Ballejos.
It was not clear Sunday what charges he will face.
Sgt. Aaron Williamson says the incident began when Ballejos and his girlfriend got into a drunken fight at a house party Friday.
Ballejos allegedly held the baby's head close to the fan to intimidate the girlfriend.
Williamson says the homeowner called authorities and also got the baby away from the suspect.
However, Ballejos allegedly grabbed the child again and put the baby in a chokehold.
Williamson says the baby was not seriously injured.
According to court records, Ballejos was arrested for child endangerment in 2010.