An internal email obtained by the Democratic Party of New Mexico says New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran has resigned. The Party sent an early-morning news release showing an email informing unknown recipients announcing the troubled Secretary of State’s resignation. The release also said a rulemaking hearing scheduled for today has been canceled because of Duran's stepping down from her elected post. A special committee had been investigating whether there was enough evidence to impeach her for alleged misuse of campaign contributions. Duran had been scheduled to appear in Santa Fe District Court this morning to consider a motion hearing in connection to the criminal case waged against her by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. She is accused of 65 counts including embezzlement, money laundering and identity theft.
The man accused of the road rage killing of a four-year-old girl on an Albuquerque freeway has been tied to violent crimes in New Mexico over the past decade but the cases were dropped. Tony Torrez has only been prosecuted for a misdemeanor speeding violation. Court records say Torrez pled guilty to going 16 to 20 mph over the speed limit in 2013. Around that time, charges including abandonment or abuse of a child and aggravated battery of a household member were dismissed after the victim died. Prosecutors also were unable to proceed with 2006 domestic violence charges. The 32-year-old Torrez was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder and other crimes in the shooting death of Lilly Garcia. He was arraigned by video from the jail and is being held on 650-thousand dollars’ cash only bond.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the Navajo Nation's request for an emergency declaration due to the Gold King mine spill August fifth. Tribal President Russell Begaye made the request earlier this month. The spill unleashed three-million gallons of toxic wastewater that eventually flowed into the San Juan River which runs through the northern part of the Navajo Nation. FEMA said this week that most of the response and recovery efforts for the spill fall under the authority of other federal agencies and denied Begaye's request. Begaye says he will appeal.
Federal prosecutors have charged an Albuquerque man with weapons violations after he was accused of shooting and critically wounding a police officer. The federal criminal complaint filed Thursday charges 34-year-old DavonLymon with being a felon in illegal possession of a firearm. Records show that Lymon pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery in 2002, as well as to fraud and forgery the year before. The federal charge says a pistol was found in a vacant lot where Lymon ran after the shooting. Officer Dan Webster remains hospitalized in critical but somewhat stable condition following multiple surgeries
Santa Fe Police detectives are investigating a rash of shopliftings that have occurred at Home Depot and Lowe’s in September and October. The suspects have stolen approximately $12,000 worth of merchandise on at least 9 occasions. Officers believe a 2004 silver Hyundai and a 1996 silver Subaru may have been involved, and they’ve also obtained video surveillance of three male suspects. The surveillance photos are posted on the Santa Fe Police public information officer’s Facebook page.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today and tomorrow with the high both days, 58. There’s a slight chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms today. Tonight: Partly cloudy with a 20-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms with the low dropping to 38.