Category: Courts

Man accused of taking woman at gunpoint arrested

Man accused of taking woman at gunpoint arrested

From the Las Vegas Optic A Las Vegas man who police say kidnapped a woman at gunpoint in April has been arrested. The woman was found unharmed. Forty-year-old Eric L. Vigil, who is also known as “Eric Builder” and “Scare Bear,” was arrested June 7 in rural San Miguel County following a months-long search. Police…

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Lawsuit alleges prosecutor was fired after raising concerns about judge

Lawsuit alleges prosecutor was fired after raising concerns about judge

From the Las Vegas Optic A whistleblower lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses former San Miguel County District Attorney Richard Flores and current District Attorney Tom Clayton of terminating a prosecutor for raising concerns about a judge presiding over a case. The suit centers on two 2019 criminal cases heard in Fourth Judicial District Court by then-state…

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Former LCC employee fired for pot use sues for wrongful termination

Former LCC employee fired for pot use sues for wrongful termination

From the Las Vegas Optic Luna Community College is facing a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former employee who alleges Luna violated his state constitutional rights by firing him for using medical cannabis. At the center of the lawsuit is an employee’s right to use medical cannabis, and whether an employer can terminate someone…

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Here to stay?: Measures implemented during pandemic could become commonplace in court system

Here to stay?: Measures implemented during pandemic could become commonplace in court system

From the Las Vegas Optic As cases of the coronavirus began spreading across the country in early 2020, San Miguel County officials were busy making preparations, anticipating that the virus would spread to New Mexico, and to the county. New Mexico reported its first case March 11, 2020. Eight days later, San Miguel County reported…

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Details scarce in weekend homicide

Details scarce in weekend homicide

From the Las Vegas Optic A man was shot and killed on the city’s west side early last Saturday morning; however, few details have been released to the public. Chief of Police Adrian Crespin confirmed to the Optic that one person was shot and killed in the 500 block of Socorro Street in the early…

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Former Pecos coach at center of child rape lawsuit indicted on federal charges

Former Pecos coach at center of child rape lawsuit indicted on federal charges

From the Las Vegas Optic A former Pecos High School boys basketball assistant coach has been indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of using interstate commerce to entice or coerce minor girls into sexual activity. Joshua G. Rico, 25, was arrested Friday and appeared in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque Monday morning…

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