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Albuquerque man pleads guilty to transporting illegal aliens resulting in a death

2/28/2023

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Elton Jeremiah Gastelum pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, resulting in the death of any person, three counts of transporting an illegal alien, resulting in the death of any person, and high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. Elton Jeremiah Gastelum, 21, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will remain in custody pending sentencing.

In his plea agreement, Elton Jeremiah Gastelum admitted that on September 18, 2021, he intentionally agreed with other persons to transport within the United States eight illegal aliens. After picking up the aliens, he encountered a Border Patrol checkpoint on New Mexico Highway 11. Rather than stop and enter the checkpoint, Gastelum sped off. While fleeing law enforcement, he lost control of the vehicle, and it flipped multiple times killing two of the aliens he was transporting.

By the terms of the plea agreement, Elton Jeremiah Gastelum faces 10-13 years in prison.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from United States Border Patrol and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher S. McNair and Randy M. Castellano are prosecuting the case.

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Proposal to pay NM legislators sent back to committee

2/28/2023

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SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico News Network * (KOB-TV) - Every year, state legislators travel from across New Mexico to the Roundhouse for the legislative session – mostly on their own dime. New Mexico is the only state that does not have paid legislators.

New Mexico has a voluntary Legislature meaning; besides meal and housing stipends, state representatives and senators aren’t paid. But that could soon change if a handful of sponsors get their way.

In order to pay legislators there would have to be a change to the state Constitution, so multiple Democratic sponsors authored House Joint Resolution 8.

According to the resolution, a citizens’ committee would be put together, and that group would decide how much legislators would get paid.

Now, this proposal has already made it through to the House floor, but on Monday morning, instead of being debated and voted on it was sent back to committee.

“In consultation with the sponsor we are re-referring House Joint Resolution 8 back to Judiciary Committee seeing no objections it is so ordered,” said Speaker of the House Javier Martínez.

The 11-page resolution has already passed two committees, and it explains in great detail how they will determine a salary for legislators. But the sponsors asked for the resolution to go back to committee because it was too detailed for where it stands.

The Secretary of State asked for the resolution to be slimmed down so if it passes the whole text will be able to fit on a ballot next November. Then, if the resolution is passed by the voters, they can pass a new bill detailing what this salary committee would look like.

Rep. Joy Garratt told KOB 4 they will be cutting back the resolution to only express their goal, to create a committee that will determine what salary legislators should be paid – thus opening the door to make the government more inclusive.

“There are folks who are in the public who have talked about not just issues on good governance but also really diversifying our legislature in terms of life experiences I think it’s really hard to recruit and retain really good legislatures and I think this resolution really helps to address that,” said state Rep. Angelica Rubio.

Garratt says she is hopeful this slimmed down resolution will be heard this week and make it back to the House floor.

*Story from KOB-TV through the New Mexico News Network

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Helar out at NMSU Basketball Head Coach

2/14/2023

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LAS CRUCES - KOB-TV- Greg Heiar has been terminated as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at New Mexico State University. The announcement was made by Chancellor Dan Arvizu Tuesday, days after hazing allegations were uncovered.
“As I’ve stated previously, hazing has no place on our campus, and those found responsible will be held accountable for their actions,” Arvizu said. “I am committed to the safety and well-being of all members of our campus community, as well as to the integrity of our university.”
NMSU Director of Athletics Mario Moccia informed Heiar of the decision Tuesday afternoon.
Arvizu said any further decisions regarding the rest of the coaching staff will be made after additional investigations have concluded.

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NMSU's basketball program hazing allegations include criminal sexual contact, Board of Regents to hold closed meeting tonight (Tuesday)

2/14/2023

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PHoto Credit: Yahoo! News

LAS CRUCES - KRWG - via New Mexico News Network - On Sunday, the NMSU basketball season was suspended for the remainder of the season after allegations of hazing within the program.
On Feb. 10, a member of the NMSU basketball team told police that beginning around July of 2022, he was a victim of multiple instances of the hazing.
The alleged hazing involved criminal sexual contact, false imprisonment, and harassment by three teammates, according to a redacted NMSU Police report obtained by KRWG.
The redacted report does not name any individuals, but according to the victim's allegations, three of his teammates are directly involved in the misconduct, and the most recent incident occurred on Feb. 6.
The remaining NMSU basketball games have been canceled, and the coaching staff is on paid administrative leave. KRWG reached out to NMSU Athletic Director Mario Moccia for comment on the incident, in which he declined to comment and referred the station to university officials.
According to the university, the NMSU Board of Regents will hold a closed meeeting tonight at 5 p.m to discuss, “limited personnel matters concerning individual employees.”

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New Mexico legislators consider creating cannabis police

2/14/2023

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SANTA FE - (KRQE) – New Mexico News Network - New Mexico’s cannabis industry is booming, according to sales data. Since recreational sales began in 2022, retailers have sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth. But does the industry need more oversight?

That’s one question legislators are considering. And House Bill 233 proposes a way to enforce cannabis rules. The bill, sponsored by Representative Marian Matthews (D-Abq.), would reorganize the state’s Regulation and Licensing Department, also known as NMRLD. That department contains the Cannabis Control Division, which oversees New Mexico’s cannabis industry. The bill also proposes letting the department hire compliance officers with police powers to enforce cannabis-related rules.

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee debated the bill Monday, February 13. Right away, the committee considered changing the bill to remove the idea of using compliance officers.

“It was a little more complicated than we initially thought to get [compliance officers] built in,” NMRLD Superintendent Linda Trujillo explained to the committee. “And the cost of it was not contemplated.” So, the bill sponsors asked for an amendment to remove the idea of having law enforcement compliance officers.

Rep. Martin R. Zamora (R-Clovis, Santa Rosa, & Fort Sumner) expressed concern over the potential impact of not having law enforcement officers. “Is it gonna limit our power or our ability to control the cannabis industry?” he asked. “We need feet on the ground. We need to enforce our rules,” he suggested.

But Trujillo from NMRLD explained that the state is already operating without cannabis police. “Currently, the Cannabis Control Division works collaboratively with the Department of Public Safety,” she explained. The original intent of having law enforcement officers at the Regulation and Licensing Department was to have in-house enforcement. But even without that, there currently is oversight, and there will continue to be oversight, she explained.

Linda Trujillo says the Regulation and Licensing Department will continue to consider the best way to enforce cannabis rules. So, the idea of having cannabis inspectors with police powers may not be completely off the table for future legislation.

But for now, the committee decided to move the bill forward without the law enforcement component. The legislation could still improve the department by re-focusing their IT department, Trujillo says.

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Hispano Chamber Partners with Business Leaders to Launch Crime Fighting Advocacy Tool

2/9/2023

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ALBUQUERQUE - The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce (“Hispano Chamber”) announces the launch of CrimeStatsNM, a revolutionary new software tool providing lawmakers and their constituents with current crime data.

Hispano Board Member Steve B. Chavez spearheaded and developed this innovative initiative through weekly meetings where he and other board members listened to crime experts from across New Mexico. The Chamber is also supporting several bills being introduced to the 2023 NM Legislature that will reduce crime in the state. CrimeStatsNM provides data on violent adds property crime, theft and drug-related crime. It also ranks legislative districts in five categories ranging from good to critical.

The Board Chair Phil Casaus, President and CEO of Brycon Corp., enthusiastically praised Steve Chavez’s work: “Our membership and board applaud the efforts that Steve Chavez has led. Steve and other board members involved in the anti-crime initiative have devoted their time to learn about the complexities of crime in New Mexico; CrimeStatNM is the product of those meetings” New Mexicans are urged to sign up for free to receive relevant information about crime statistics in their respective legislative district by visiting crimestatsNM.org.

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New Mexico legislators may block local abortion ordinances

2/6/2023

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Photo: ABC News

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A standoff over abortion in politically conservative regions of New Mexico escalated Friday as Democratic state legislators advanced a bill that would prohibit local governments from interfering with women's access to reproductive health care.
The initiative from state House Democrats responds to abortion restrictions recently adopted in two counties and three cities in eastern New Mexico where sentiments against the procedure run deep — and amid efforts by states across the nation to restrict abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

A legislative panel endorsed the bill on a party-line, 7-3 vote with opposition from Republican lawmakers who said they were bombarded with emails, phone calls and petitions from constituents in opposition. Additional hearings are planned before the House and Senate potentially votes on the bill, which is supported by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Anti-abortion ordinances, adopted over the past several months by officials in the cities of Hobbs, Clovis, Eunice, and Lea and Roosevelt counties, reference an obscure U.S. anti-obscenity law that prohibits shipping of medication or other materials intended to aid abortions.

State Attorney General Raúl Torrez says local governments have overstepped their authority to regulate health care access, with local laws that violate state constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process. Last month, Torrez petitioned the state Supreme Court to intervene. The court has yet to respond.

The new bill, sponsored by Rep. Linda Serrato of Santa Fe and other Democrats, would prohibit local governments from interfering with access to reproductive care — including abortion, birth control, and prevention of or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

“It's really important ... to make it abundantly clear to everyone that in New Mexico you can access health care and we respect your ability to do so," Serrato said.

The bill would also ban local restrictions on gender-affirming care, which typically can include puberty-blocking medication, hormone therapy or surgeries. That provision is a counterpoint to proposed bans on gender-affirming care for minors or young adults in more than two dozen states.
“We've seen so many, to be frank, politically motivated attacks on these two types of health care," Serrato told The Associated Press. “We wanted to make sure that people were not scared of accessing their health care.”

On Friday, Serrato told a House panel that providing gender-affirming health care can save lives by lowering suicide rates and addressing depression as youths come of age and grapple with questions of gender. Republican state Rep. Harlan Vincent, of Ruidoso Downs, countered that a portion of youths have regrets after seeking gender-affirming health care.

Jodi Hendricks, executive director of the conservative group New Mexico Family Action Movement, described abortion and gender-affirming care as “elective procedures” and urged legislators to leave room for conscience decisions and support the autonomy of local government.

“We do not believe that local governments and bodies should lose the right to determine what's best with their communities," she said.

In 2021, New Mexico's Democrat-led Legislature passed a measure to repeal a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures, ensuring access to abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.
But that ruling last June also energized local government efforts to restrict abortion.
Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobb has said constituents in his community overwhelmingly support the city’s abortion-restricting ordinance, citing hours of public testimony to the city council.

The ordinances adopted in New Mexico bear hallmarks of a national effort to ban abortion one city at a time led by Mark Lee Dickson, founder of the Texas-based Sanctuary Cities of the Unborn organization. He has traveled extensively in New Mexico to talk to local government boards and faith-based groups.

“The approach in New Mexico ended up being compliance with these federal statutes,” Dickson told the AP. “They're not explicit abortion bans ... but they have the same result. We call them de facto abortion bans."

Dickson said he envisions the ordinances in New Mexico holding up to scrutiny in federal court and helping cities such as Hobbs keep at bay abortion providers and pharmacy chain distributors of abortion pills, amid legal battles over state restrictions on abortion medications.

“I almost want to show up and say (to state legislators), ‘I double dog dare you to pass it,’” said Dickson, who believes local abortion ordinances are reinforced by federal law and can't be overturned by the Legislature.

Roosevelt County’s ordinance gives private citizens the power to sue anyone suspected of violations of local regulation of abortion, allowing damages of up to $100,000 per infraction.
Under the state bill, interference with reproductive and gender-affirming health care could result in civil penalties of up to $5,000, damage awards and compensation for legal expenses.

Minnesota on Tuesday became the first state Legislature this year to codify abortion rights into law, ensuring that the state’s existing protections remain in place no matter who sits on future courts.

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Albuquerque man pleads guilty to transporting illegal aliens resulting in a death

Proposal to pay NM legislators sent back to committee

Helar out at NMSU Basketball Head Coach

NMSU's basketball program hazing allegations include criminal sexual contact, Board of Regents to hold closed meeting tonight (Tuesday)

New Mexico legislators consider creating cannabis police

Hispano Chamber Partners with Business Leaders to Launch Crime Fighting Advocacy Tool

New Mexico legislators may block local abortion ordinances

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