New Mexico Verdicts & Court Cases

State of New Mexico v. Jevon Martine

Bernalillo, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represents the Dendant charged with larcen, criminal damage to property, and tampering with evidence. Jevon Martinez allegedly vandalized Flock camers.

United States of America v. Scott A. Spiro

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant, Scott A. Spiro, charged with wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. Between April 2020 and December 2021, Spiro, 64, devised and carried out a scheme to defraud the federal government and federally insured financial i

Sate of New Mexico v. Patrick Howard

Las Cruces, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with inappropriately touched two students on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (CSCM) in the third degree (person in a position of authority), contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-9-13(C)(2)(a) (2003), aga

State of New Mexico v. Sheryl Williams Stapleton

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with grand larceny and embezzlement of public funds. Reported by: Kent Morlan Former state Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton was accused of took money meant for Albuquerque Public School students and spe

United States of America v. Samantha Lee

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with arson in violation of 18 U.S.C. 844. Reported by Kent Morlan Samantha Lee, age 41, maliciously started several fires inside a storage warehouse on Menaul Boulevard NE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that was u

United States of America v. Max Jaramillo

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with embezzlement by an officer of a labor union in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343. Reported by: Kent Morlan Max Jaramillo, 58, served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331, from 2014 t

State of New Mexico v. Meta Platforms, Inc.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: The Officer of the Attorney General of New Mexico sued Meta Payment Platforms, Inc. for wrongfully pushing content to underage users on Instagram and Facebook in violation of New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act. “Meta built products it knew would fuel addiction, deepen a you

State of New Mexico v. Alexander Corvison

Santa Fe, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with kidnapping and battery.

United States of America v. Willis Kylestewa

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with first degree murder in Indian Country. Reported by Kent Morlan On July 4, 2025, Willis Kylestewa, 42, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, drove while intoxicated with four passengers in a vehicle withou

United States of America v. Jesus Manuel Salgueido

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with misdemeanor possession of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. 844. Digested by Kent Morlan In 1987 the government charged Petitioner with misdemeanor possession of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844(a

State of New Mexico v. Tomas Rivas

Las Cruces, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with three counts of first degree murder. Tomas Rivas charged in connection with the March 21 Young Park shooting on March 21, 2025 during an unsanctioned car meet.

State of New Mexico v. Bailey Zimmerman

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with malicious damage to property and trespassing for causing $16,000 in property damage to Sandia Resort & Casino in May, 2026.

Susan Ellen Gibson v. Sean Vincent Spinato

Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, family law lawyer represented the Petition in a divorce action. Reported by Kent Morlan

United States of America v. Saul Gonzalez

Las Cruces, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with interference with commerce by robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1951. Reported by Kent Morlan on January 24, 2025, Saul Gonzalez, 36, stole several pairs of work gloves from a Lowe’s Home Improvement store

State of New Mexico v. Josiah Watts and Xavrein Trotter Jr.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with first-degree murder. Reported by Kent Morlan Josiah Watts and Xavrein Trotter Jr., both age 19, accused of killing Enock Elumba, who was shot by Watts during an altercation.

United States of America v. Rex Crofton

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with damaging a local synagogue and Jewish community center. Reported by Kent Morlan Rex Crofton, 25, is accused of shattering the glass entry doors at Congregation Albert synagogue in Louisiana before going to t

United States of America v. Seviano Kee

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with murder in Indian Country. Reported by: Kent Morlan On May 20, 2026, Seviano Kee, 18, and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, stabbed John Doe with a kitchen knife during an argument, killing him. The

United States of America v. Danial Adair, Daniel Nicolds, and Lary Micholds

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyers represent the Defendants charged with fraudulently obtain and sell New Mexico elk hunting tags to out of state hunters and conceal the proceeds from the IRS. from approximately 2019 through 2022, Danial Adair, 44, Daniel Nicolds, 57, and his br

Estate of Nichelie Nichols v. Gila Medical Center

Silver City, New Mexico, personal injury lawyer represented the Estate of Nichelle Nichols on a medical malpractice theory. Reported by Kent Morlan The Family and Estates of Nichelle Nichols sued the Gila Medical Center in Silver City, New Medical claiming she died as a result of having receiv

United States of America v. Claudiu Pesteleu

Las Cruces, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Reported by Kent Morlan Claudiu Pesteleu, 44, a Romanian national illegally present in the United States, admitted that from May 2023 through June 2024, he participated in a

United States of America v. Timothy Begay

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal Defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with second-degree murder in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1153. Reported by Kent Morlan On December 9, 2024, Timothy Begay, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving drunk when he crossed the center lin

United States of America v. Miranda Cachini

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with involuntary manslaughter. By Kent Morlan Miranda Cachini, age 27, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, consumed alcoholic beverages and fell asleep while breastfeeding her 2-month-old daughter in bed. Dur

United States of America v. Kevin Metcalf

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with illegally possessing a firearm after he shot a store employee during an attempted liquor theft at an Albuquerque business. On December 29, 2024, Kevin Metcalf, 37, entered El Rey Liquors in downtown Albuquerqu

State of New Mexico v. Nadine Judith Gonzales

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer John McCall represented the Defendant charged with Shoplifting (Over $2,500 but not more than $20,000) and Conspiracy to Commit Shoplifting (Over $2500, Less than $20,000) 30-16-20 provides: A. Shoplifting consists of one or more of the followin

State of New Mexico v. Yufang Bao and John Tunney Bao

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyers represent the Defendants trafficking women for commercial sex. Yufang Bao and and John Tunney Bao owned and operated six massage parlors in Albuquerque where they allegedly engaged in sex trafficking.

United States of America v. Zachary Babitz

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with interference with commerce by committing a series of armed robberies and carjackings across New Mexico in 2024 that culminated in the fatal shooting of a victim during a carjacking in Santa Fe County. Babitz,

State of New Mexico v. Nicholas Schmidt, a/k/a Nicholas Andrew Schmidt

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with child abuse and failure to report1 child abuse or neglect. Defendant and his spouse were charged with child abuse and failure to report child abuse or neglect. The State filed a motion that sought a ruling fr

United States of America v. Jose Ramirez

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with kidnapping. In 2018, just weeks after his release from prison for a felony firearm conviction stemming from a high-speed police chase, and while under court supervision and wearing a GPS ankle monitor, Jose Ra

United States of America v. Jose Ramirez

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with multiple charges, including conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, conspiracy to carjack, carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and extortion in December 2025.

State of New Mexico v. Meta Platforms, Inc.

Santa Fe, New Mexico Attorney General's Office represented the States of New Mexico claiming that Meta failed to warn users about the dangers of its platform and protect children from sexual predators and willfully engaging in "unfair and deceptive" and "unconscionable" trade practices. New Mexic

Angel Salcdo, et al. v. City of Las Vegas, et al.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, personal injury lawyer represented the Plaintiffs who sued on civil rights violation theories. During an hours-long standoff with law enforcement in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Alejandro Alirez shot his girlfriend, Cristal Cervantes, and her grandfather, Victor Cervantes, in

State of New Mexico v. Brian Pori

Grants, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with bringing contraband into a prison. Albuquerque criminal defense lawyer Brian Pori, 64, was going to meet an inmate on Wednesday. While he was going through a security point at the prison’s visitor entrance, a corr

United States of America v. Claudiu Pesteleu

Las Cruces, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyers Gabriel Perez and Jessica Martin represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Claudiu Pesteleu, age 44, a Romanian national illegally in the United States participated in a nationwide fraud scheme that used fake websites

State of New Mexico v. Francisco Solia

Bernalillo County, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and road rage. Francisco Solis accused of threatening a man with a handgun and driving away in a white Ford F150. A search of the Defendant's home resulted in t

State of New Mexico v. Jovan Martinez and Makaela Johnson

Santa Rosa, New Mexico Defendants accused of shooting at New Mexico State Trooper. Criminal defense lawyer represent the Defendants to shot at NMSP officer who tried to stop Jovan Martinez and Makaela Johnson on US Highway 285, south of Vaughn.

State of New Mexico v. . Albert Rival

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant who brandished a fire arm. Albert Rival, 65, was a member at the North Valley Senior Center, but staff had to call the police, saying he took things too far.

United States of America v. Edison Brady

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with econd-degree murder for fatally stabbing a man during an assault on the Navajo Nation. On July 25, 2024, officers with the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to fight in progress near a defunct business

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with burglary. Joseph Montoya was shot while burglarizing the business for a second time.

United States of America v. Richard Sepulveda

Las Cruces, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with using Molotov cocktails to ignite multiple fires at an apartment complex. on January 12, 2026, Las Cruces Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Villa Del Telshor Apartments in Las Cruces, New Mexi

United States of America v. Robert Haack

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with wire and mail fraud. Robert Haack, 59, carried out a years long scheme to defraud collectors by selling counterfeit jewelry falsely represented as authentic works by renowned Hopi artist Charles Loloma. The

United States of America v. Adrian Cheama

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. On June 16, 2025, Adrian Cheama, 37, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, stabbed an unarmed man in the abdomen with a sharp metal o

State of New Mexico v. Angelique Silva

Albuquerque, New Mexico criminal defense lawyer John Rhinehart represented the Defendant charged with burglary, unlawful taking of an automobile and theft of a credit card. Angelique Silva, age 43, broke into and stole with keys inside lockers in a gym where the owners were exercising. She would

United States of America v. Justin Hunt

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right. Justin Hunt, a former Albuquerque Police Department lieutenant, engaged in a scheme to arrest drunk drivers who were

United States of America v. Santiago Martinez

Denver, Colorado, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with manslaughter. Santiago Martinez, age 33, killed Suazo during an argument outside their shared home on the Taos Pueblo. The couple had been listening to music when DeAnna again expressed her long-stated desire to end

State of New Mexico v. Timothy Busfield

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with sexual abuse of a minor. Timothy Busfield, accused of abusing a 7 year old boy on the set of “The Cleaning Lady,” a TV series Busfield directed and acted in.

United States of America v. Max Jaramillo

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with wire fraud and embezzlement by an Officer of a Labor Organization. From 2014 through early 2024, Max Jaramillo, 58, served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331, a position that c

United States of America v. Donald Thompson

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with second-degree murder. On January 1, 2026, Donald Thompson, 49, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, allegedly shot and killed another Laguna Pueblo member during a confrontation at a cemetery within the

State of New Mexico v. April Hernandez

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the defendant charged with identity theft and fraud. April Hernandez was accused of identity theft and multiple counts of fraud after stealing three nurses’ identities and providing care for hospice patients without a license.

United States of America v. Jason Baca

Albuquerque, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with felony possession of a firearm. 18:922(g)(1) and 924: Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; 18:111(a) and (b): Assault on a Federal Officer; 18:924(c)(1)(A)(ii): Brandishing a Firearm During and in R

State of New Mexico v. Christina Escobedo Arriaga

Las Cruces, New Mexico, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with: Two counts of Homicide by Vehicle (Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Any Drug) One count of Great Bodily Harm by Vehicle (Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Li