Nude bathers apprehended; drug bust in Bernalillo

—JOHN PAUL TRUJILLO
SHERIFF, SANDOVAL COUNTY
On August 4, 2005 Sandoval County Sheriff’s detectives were conducting surveillance at the Spence Springs off Highway 4 in reference to the use of illegal narcotics and past reports of indecent exposures.

At 11:15 a.m., detectives observed a male subject approach the area of the two hot spring pools. The male subject removed all his clothing, exposing his genitals to three juveniles and three adults and was taken into custody and charged with three counts of felony aggravated indecent exposure.

On Friday, August 19, 2005, detectives issued a total of five indecent exposure citations and two narcotic citations at Spence Springs throughout the day. A criminal history was researched on all subjects from whom it was discovered that two of the five subjects cited for indecent exposure were convicted sexual offenders. Due to past incidents and complaints, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting such operations in an attempt to deter such activity.

On August 15, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for a registered sex offender who violated the New Mexico Sex Offender Registration Act (NMSA 29-11A-1) by failing to register with the sheriff’s office within ten days after his release from the custody of the correction’s department in July. Failure to comply is a fourth-degree felony.

The felon is currently incarcerated in the Sandoval County Detention Center on unrelated charges. He was booked on the above warrant.

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office will continue to be proactive in monitoring sex offenders and will enforce any violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

On Wednesday, August 17, detectives with the Sandoval County Bureau of Criminal Investigations Division acted on narcotic information and executed a search warrant at 131 San Felipe Court in the town of Bernalillo. Drug paraphernalia, a small amount of marijuana, and twelve rocks of crack cocaine were seized during the search. One adult female will be cited and summoned into court for possession of drug paraphernalia, one adult female was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of crack cocaine, and the adult male was placed under arrest for possession of crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bad checks made good by offender fines

District Attorney Lemuel Martinez has announced that his office’s Bad Check Restitution Program returned more than $27,000 dollars to businesses victimized by worthless checks in the 13th Judicial District during the first five months of this year.

“It’s important to note that this program has not taken up any work time for the staff in the district attorney’s office,” Martinez said.

Neither does the program entail any cost for merchants or taxpayers. “This is the type of public-private initiative that benefits our citizens, because the program is totally funded through statutory fees paid by the offenders,” Martinez said.
In 2004, the Bad Check Restitution Program returned more than $38,000 to merchants in the district, which covers Sandoval, Valencia, and Cibola counties.

Martinez’ office becomes involved in helping recover losses from insufficient funds and account-closed checks after the check writer fails to respond to program notices to remit payment. The business at that point can file a crime report with the Bad Check Restitution Program. The prosecutor’s agent then contacts the check writer, offering the option of making restitution or facing criminal charges.

For further information about the Bad Check Restitution Program, contact Maria Santillanes Norcia, community relations representative, at 866-643-3145.