Undersheriff Arturo Baeza
(Deming) – Two Columbus men were arrested on charges relating to an attempt to cross horses into Mexico without going through the proper
procedures for exportation of livestock.
According to a Luna County Sheriff’s Department report, 44-year-old Ismael Trevizo and 20-year-old Aiben Madrid have been charged with attempted unlawful export of livestock and conspiracy.Trevizo also has been charged with cruelty to animals.
Undersheriff Arturo Baeza said Border Patrol agents spotted Madrid riding one horse and leading another toward the international boundary with Mexico west of Columbus.Madrid was
less than two miles from Mexico when he was stopped.
Sheriff’s officials determined that Madrid was taking the two horses through the desert at the request of Trevizo in an attempt to cross into Mexico without having the horses inspected for
exportation.A pickup and horse trailer were waiting for Madrid on the Mexican side of the border.
One of the horses was severely malnourished and neglected, which prompted the cruelty charge against Trevizo, who claimed ownership of the horses.
State Livestock Board officials took custody of the horses.
James Goldman
(Deming) – A Luna County Sheriff’s Reserve officer working Saturday’s “Take Back” prescription drug initiative has been arrested for taking some of the donated medications.
20-year-old James Goldman is facing two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute – both third-degree felonies.
Undersheriff Arturo Baeza said a witness saw Goldman take two bottles of
prescription painkillers that had been discarded through the Drug Enforcement
Administration’s “Take Back” program at Wal-Mart this past Saturday.
Baeza said Goldman was at the drop-off location in his capacity as a Sheriff’s Reservist, helping secure the donated medications. Goldman reportedly confessed to taking the drugs. He
had previously indicated he had a buyer for the painkillers.
The DEA “Take Back” initiative is a nationwide program aimed at getting unused, unwanted and outdated prescription drugs out of homes before they become part of a community’s substance abuse problem.
The drop boxes were set up this past Saturday inside Wal-Mart.
Sheriff Raymond Cobos
(Deming) – The Luna County Sheriff’s Department is initiating a multi-agency livestock theft patrol in an effort to deter cattle and hay thefts.
Sheriff Raymond Cobos said his administration was meeting with officials from the Border Patrol, state Livestock Board, State Police and Deming Police to coordinate agencies as a means to help Luna County farmers and ranchers.
Investigator Alan Batts said local agriculturists constantly battle the loss of cattle and hay… and he said a more aggressive approach to inspecting stock trailers could help stop the thefts.
Cobos said livestock thefts are not routinely reported to the Sheriff’s Office, but instead get reported to the Livestock Board.
By working with Border Patrol agents who are routinely combing the rural parts of the region, and with Livestock Inspector Janice Blandford and others, he hopes to get the message out to modern-day rustlers that Luna County is off-limits to cattle and hay
thieves.
Cobos added that some people may be initially irritated by being stopped simply because they are hauling a stock trailer, but he is confident they will appreciate the effort to deter cattle theft.
The launch of the effort is being timed to coincide with fall cattle works when ranchers tally their livestock numbers and report thefts.
(Deming) -- A 72-year-old Columbus man was ripped off by a woman who befriended him, and that woman is now facing charges. 54-year-old Patricia Garcia of Las Cruces has been arrested on charges of fraud over 20-thousand dollars... computer access with intent to defraud... and fraudulent use of a credit card over 20-thousand dollars. Luna County Sheriff's Investigator Bobby Brookhouser said Garcia was arrested last week at the Santa Teresa school where she is employed. She is accused of taking over 80-thousand dollars from the Columbus man over an 18-month period by transferring funds from his account to hers... making Automated Teller Machine withdrawals at a casino... and using the man's debit card. Brookhouser said Garcia's arrest was the result of a three-month investigation, which began after the man's family members discovered money missing from his accounts.
(Deming) -- Human skeletal remains were discovered Saturday evening at a location near the 17-thousand
block of Coyote Road in the county.
Luna County Sheriff's Captain Arturo Baeza said the bones were scattered over 100 yards... and a
Mexican voting card was found in the vicinity.
Baeza said the bones were bleached and were believed to have been there for at least a year.
Officials from the Office of the Medical Investigator and Homeland Security were immediately notified.
Also... the Mexican consulate will be notified to see if further identification can be made -- and
next-of-kin notified -- from information obtained off the voting card.
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