(Deming) – Charges have been dismissed against a former Luna County warden accused of approving inmate furloughs without judicial authorization.
Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Daniel Viramontes Thursday granted a motion to dismiss all 14 misdemeanor charges filed in January on former warden John Krehbiel.
Viramontes ruled that the furloughs in question were granted as part of the county’s Recidivism Reduction Program – a program already in place before Krehbiel was hired as warden.
Inmates were sentenced to the program by judges, and furloughs were earned through good behavior and compliance with provisions such as attending substance abuse prevention and anger management classes.
Viramontes found that the furloughs were not a violation of the state statute governing release of prisoners, since the furloughs technically extended the boundaries of the jail and were not a release from custody.
All 14 of the inmates in the questioned furlough cases returned to the jail upon completion of their furloughs.
The 25-count motion for dismissal was filed in May, and heard by Viramontes in August.
Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Daniel Viramontes Thursday granted a motion to dismiss all 14 misdemeanor charges filed in January on former warden John Krehbiel.
Viramontes ruled that the furloughs in question were granted as part of the county’s Recidivism Reduction Program – a program already in place before Krehbiel was hired as warden.
Inmates were sentenced to the program by judges, and furloughs were earned through good behavior and compliance with provisions such as attending substance abuse prevention and anger management classes.
Viramontes found that the furloughs were not a violation of the state statute governing release of prisoners, since the furloughs technically extended the boundaries of the jail and were not a release from custody.
All 14 of the inmates in the questioned furlough cases returned to the jail upon completion of their furloughs.
The 25-count motion for dismissal was filed in May, and heard by Viramontes in August.
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