This isnt New York man," the ASU officer said. However, none of the officers claimed to have their body cameras rolling, despite recording hours of footage leading up to the search and immediately recording video after hes placed into handcuffs. This Rio Arriba County New Mexico Most Wanted List posts the top 50-100 fugitive criminals on the run. One of the officers pursuing him, Martin Sosa, has his own similar criminal history. Walker also served as a jailer, first deputy, undersheriff,District Court clerk and two terms as county treasurer, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Superior police claimed he resisted arrest. Lujan submitted his resignation from the office of Rio Arriba County Sheriff via email Wednesday evening, just hours after being convicted. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He held manyprominent positions to help in this effort, such aspresident of the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and Phoenix fraternal associations, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. There was also a major increase in "uncompensated deputies" during this time,according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. The ASU officer said it didn't matter if he was a deputy. Reeb has filed a brief in favor of drawing jurors only from Santa Fe County. On Friday, a jury. Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office contact information: Tierra Amarilla Sheriff's Office 149 State Rd 162 - Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico 87575 Landline: (575) 588-7271 Fax: (575) 588-7194 Espaola Sheriff's Office 1122 Industrial Park Road - Espanola, New Mexico 87532 Landline: (505) 753-3329 Fax: (505) 753-9812 Administrative Hours: In this time, he opened a new jail on top of the First Avenue Courthouse, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. The trial was his second in the case; a June trial in a Tierra Amarilla courtroom ended with a jury deadlocked 8-4 in favor of acquittal. Prosecutor Reeb told the jury that Lattin didnt immediately tell anyone because he was afraid the sheriff would fire him if he did. Lujan also resigned from his position following this conviction. Noah Broadway was an original Phoenix settler, and along with being a Civil War veteran and farmer, he was sheriff of Maricopa County from 1885 to 1886. Lujan was convicted in a December jury trail of felony counts of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness. Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at Dave@ABC15.com. 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. 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 . Want more news like this? But should you turn them in? Records show, he was previously fired from the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office for lying to a supervisor. 97 followers . The jury began deliberations around 3 p.m. Thursday, but by around 2:30 p.m. Friday, McGarry declared the mistrial. The county manager does all that. @Copwatchtv obtained lapel footage from different officers of a March 26th, 2020 incident, Espaola Police and New Mexico State Police were executing a sear. Property Records Search. Agnos also instated 100 percent pay for employees injured on the job, which was then adopted by the nation. This contributed to Blubaum not being reelected for another term. Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood who presided over a trial in June against Lujan in the rural Rio Arriba County seat of Tierra Amarilla, which ended with a hung jury is the second judge to move a case against the sheriff out of the county. Aug. 20A state district judge ruled Friday that Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan is too well-known in the county to stand trial there and a criminal case against him will be heard, instead, in Santa Fe. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. There is no pavement on Napoleons road, he added. [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.. The earliest many Arizona counties began keeping Brady lists was around 20 years ago. The fact that youre telling me that tells me you shouldnt be an officer," the officer said. 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. 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. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he majored in multimedia journalism. The District Attorney told KRQE News 13 that it was her understanding that Lujan resigned Wednesday a few hours after his conviction. The Town of Superior did not respond to an email request for comment. Your email is safe with us, we dont spam. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. I could not move my arms at all if I wanted to They had complete control over me. Rio Arriba County Undersheriff Martin Ray Trujillo has agreed to retire at the end of the month, in exchange for a prosecutor dropping the felony charge he was facing. If you come across them, do not attempt to apprehend them yourself. It wasn't until there was a major divide in voters due to Arpaio's stance on immigration that he lost the election. They had my arms. She previously reported for the Rio Grande Sun. Lujan is facing felony charges of bribery of a witness and harboring or aiding a felon. Local News. According to personnel records obtained by ABC15, Ensley has worked in at least six Arizona police departments, either failing to meet standards, resigning under investigation, or getting fired for dishonesty. Last year, Rodella appealed his sentence after there was a change in federal firearms law but the judge denied his request. In an interview, Napoleon Garcia said Friday the allegations in Aquinos lawsuit are false and absurd.. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. It also alleges Napoleon Garcia knew about the damage to the county vehicle but failed to report it because Montoya was related to him. The case will now be assigned to District Court and will be scheduled for an arraignment. A notice of dismissal was filed on Monday, and the case was dismissed without prejudice. Former Rio Arriba County sheriff James Lujan pleaded guilty De c. 29 to the misdemeanor counts of obstruction he was facing and will serve 364 days concurrently with his current sentence. She called multiple witnesses during the case, including former Rio Arriba County deputies, and Espaola Police Department officers. 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. Ernest Roach served for a brief time from 1945-46, before Luther Boies took over to finish his term after Roach's death, according toArizona Fraternal Order of Police. He said Lujan was just doing his job as a sheriff and Chacon was arrested the next day without incident. A man named Richard Manriquez is suing officers for a 2016 incident, alleging excessive force and an unlawful search of his home based on a false statements to obtain a warrant. The prosecutor broached the idea of moving the cases to another judicial district, in San Juan or Doa Ana County, for example, but both Biedscheid and McGarry Ellenwood elected to keep the cases in the First Judicial District, which includes Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Los Alamos counties. NM film industry playing a role in getting a 'Heist 88,' starring Courtney B. Vance, 'Heist 88,' starring Courtney B. Vance, to finish post-production in New Mexico, Vietnamese restaurant Saigon atop ABQ's dining scene. Former Rio Arriba County sheriffs Deputy Joseph Aquino gets into an altercation in March 2019 with George Vigil, an employee at Family Dollar in Chimay. However, defense attorney Jason Bowles said that Lujan isnt a bad apple but that former Espaola police officer Cody Lattin is. The Santa Fe jury did the job they were asked to do. I believe the jury had serious reservations and doubts about the prosecutions case, he said. Rio Arriba County Sheriff (Elected) Law Enforcement Agency/Government Dec 2021 . But Lujan arrived on the scene, smelling of alcohol, and demanded that police leave, saying he would arrest Chacon, according to police reports. Roy Merrill's time in office was brief, from just 1937 to 1938. Instead, immediately call the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department at 575-588-7350. 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. Sheriff Lujan believes hes above the law, Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb said during her opening statement, and the jury agreed. In 2010, he was required to undergo a psychological evaluation that determined, he may be a poor candidate due to his moral self-righteousness, possible adjustment challenges, may be overly sensitive to criticism, and may be rigid and inflexible in his thinking., Another officer involved in the arrest was Commander Anthony Doran, who was previously fired from the Pima County Sheriffs Office for having sex on duty, records show. During the two-day trial, Bowles highlighted parts of the prosecutions case and witness testimony that were inconsistent. Rio Arriba County officials, including some of those named in the lawsuit, vehemently denied allegations in the suit and pointed to the events leading to Aquinos firing as justification for his dismissal. He was the passenger in a car stopped for a cracked windshield, and officers found a small amount of marijuana and a pipe in the center console. NM film industry playing a role in getting a 'Heist 88,' starring Courtney B. Vance, 'Heist 88,' starring Courtney B. Vance, to finish post-production in New Mexico, Vietnamese restaurant Saigon atop ABQ's dining scene. Saigon Restaurant continues to stand out, Saigon Restaurant continues to stand out, even in a city known for its Vietnamese cuisine. 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. Hill established psychiatric units in jails, as well as built the Towers Jail and the Bell/Dysart Substation and jail. Martin Trujillo was charged with criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault on a peace officer for his actions in 2020 when a warrant was served on his boss, Sheriff James Lujan, who was. Still, he was repeatedly elected. This was tied to losing his bid for re-election aftera deputy-involved scandal. The charges were filed after Lujan refused to comply with a search warrant to provide investigators access to his cell phone. ABQ's independent, alternative, reader-supported news. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning. Leading Arizona: A look at the state's governors. His resigned when he lost hisbid for election to a full term, as he was simply appointed to complete Barnum's term, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. I understand there will be a retrial, and as such its not proper to comment at this time, she said in a written statement. ESPAOLA, N.M.(KRQE) A New Mexico sheriff will serve three years in prison for helping his friend evade police. At the time, six of Superiors nine full-time officers had been fired from at least one previous job and ended up on a Brady list somewhere although not all of them in Pinal County, according to records and data obtained by ABC15. 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. First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies declined comment, anticipating that the case will be retried. Choose wisely! ABC15 compared Brady lists from every Arizona county to every AZPOST case going back to 2000. Sheriff at Rio Arriba Sheriffs Office Espanola, New Mexico, United States. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. She thought it was "utterly inappropriate" for Lujan's supporters to hold a barbecue on court grounds during his trial without discussing it with her, she added. Less than a day after closing arguments were completed, 1st Judicial District Judge Kathleen McGarry declared a mistrial Friday in the trial of Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan. You couldnt f------ give me the opportunity to park the car," he said. From1881 to 1884 and from1895 to 1898, Lindely Orme served four terms asMaricopa County sheriff, with 10 years between his second and third terms. The people of Rio Arriba County elected you to be sheriff. After consulting with law enforcement officials in both Espaola and Taos, it was decided that Trujillos retirement would be a good way to resolve it.. In that case, he is facing three counts of resisting, obstructing or evading an officer stemming from an incident in March 2020. However, Reeb asked Lattin if he was ever found guilty of doing anything wrong on the most recent allegations, and Lattin said he wasnt. She argued a jury pool from Rio Arriba County would make the venue change moot. 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. A Public Service of Santa Fe Community College, PublishedFebruary 18, 2022 at 9:04 AM MST. 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. The legal limit in Arizona is 0.08. Back in May, Rio Arriba County Sheriff James Lujan was arrested after refusing to hand over his cell phone when Espaola Police, with the help of the Taos County Sheriff's Office,. The jurors felt their conversations could be heard by people outside the courtroom. Lujans predecessor, Tommy Rodella, is serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison for roughing up a motorist and brandishing a firearm during an encounter in 2014. Lattin said he overheard Lujan on the phone with Chacon and followed Lujan to where they met up. Rio Arriba County Seat: 149 State Rd. Napoleon Garcia said he knows nothing about how his uncles yard was paved and the only work done on the county road to his ranch was done in the course of normal county road maintenance. During that time, he was prohibited from driving a patrol car and rode with another deputy while taking regular calls for service. During this time he also served as an assessor and tax collector, according to Arizona Fraternal Order of Police. Trujillo directed his officers to draw their weapons against the Taos County Sheriff's deputies and Espanola police officers, who were at the Rio Arriba Sheriff's Office serving search warrants. Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Julian Navarrette is the subject of an internal investigation after he was arrested for DUI in Tempe in December, 2020. [WARNING: The video below contains police violence and graphic language]. I am extremely satisfied with the conviction, Reeb said following the verdict. Navarrette flashed the officer his badge, according to the footage. In depositions, his attorneys finally discovered which one of the officers repeatedly punched him during the raid. The judge said she previously "underestimated the effect of trying the sheriff in the county in which he is sheriff" and the effect the "overwhelming number of deputies" at the courthouse would have on jurors and witnesses. There are twice as many people living in poverty in Rio Arriba County as in Santa Fe County, Bowles added. According to the lawsuit, Aquino gave his case file to the state Attorney Generals Office in late May 2019 after telling Lujan and other supervisors what hed found.