Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 298 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
December 12, 2014
FRIDAY
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Mayor appoints Mallion to serve as municipal judge
City Council approves funding for Chaves County CASA program BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD CITY EDITOR
Mayor Dennis Kintigh nominated Lou Mallion to serve as municipal court judge during Thursday’s City Council meeting. The councilors approved the nomination of Mallion unanimously. Mallion is a former special investigations division officer with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
“From the very beginning, I knew this was a very serious, critical decision,” Kintigh said, “and I do not take this decision lightly. This was a topic of much discussion and much prayer.”
The City Council met in closed session on Tuesday to discuss the seven applicants for the position. “I think all seven of the applicants for the position showed a great commit-
ment to public service,” Kintigh said. “This is not a particularly well paying position, but it is very demanding, and it takes a heart for public service for someone to want to serve our community in this capacity.” Kintigh said the discussion with the councilors over the applicants was candid and forthright. “I have a great appreciation for this council and the
degree of commitment they showed to this process,” the mayor said. Kintigh said he has known Mallion for 22 years and that Mallion has a commitment to public service that is without equal. “Looking at all the candidates, it is amazing the number of talented people we have in Roswell, New Mexico,” said Councilor Jason Perry. “We had several qualified candidates
Rac-A-Taps share holiday spirit
with excellent experience.” Perry said the municipal judgeship would be up for election in 14 months. “I would encourage any of the candidates who has the desire to serve to put their names in the hat.” Councilor Elena Velasquez said she was also impressed with the quality of applicants who applied for the judgeship. “This was a very difficult decision for the mayor to
make,” she said. The City Council also unanimously approved the promotion of Finance Director Monica Garcia to the position of City Treasurer. Under new business, the City Council approved $50,000 for Chaves County CASA to perform forensic interviews for the Roswell Police Department.
BY DYLANNE PETROS RECORD STAFF WRITER
feel some of the AfricanAmerican students at Mesa Middle School are being targeted.” The “very few” Africanstudents, American Edwards said, are being targeted and being called the “N-word.” “When kids can get away with using the ‘N-word,’ that’s wrong,” he said. Edwards said he doesn’t think the African-American students are the only targets of discrimination. “I believe some of the Hispanic students (are discriminated against) as well,” he said. Edwards said he felt the “tension” of discrimination when he went to Mesa Middle School one day to eat lunch with a student.
Complaints of bigotry, RISD cellphone policy dominate meeting Complaints about racial discrimination and the confiscation of a student’s cellphone dominated the Roswell Independent School District board meeting Tuesday night. Roswell resident James Edwards brought up discrimination allegedly occurring at Mesa Middle School, a topic that was discussed at the previous school board meeting in November. While Edwards is a Mesa Middle School alumnus and “proud” that he is a Mesa parent, he said there are issues at the school that are being ignored. “I think that there’s some treatment of certain students that needs to be brought out,” he said. “I
Max Scally Photos
The Rac-A-Taps from the Roswell Adult Center performed Thursday at several nursing homes throughout the community.
“We have fun dancing and hope to bring enjoyment and fun to our Roswell nursing home residents,” said group member Linda Weathers. “This is our chance at Christmas time to give back to the community.”
See COUNCIL, Page A3
Shooting suspect arrested during traffic stop Man arrested for warrants after report Police seeking second suspect, Olivas, still at large of attempted murder SUBMITTED BY RPD
STAFF REPORT
Eddy County Sherif f’s deputies arrested a man on several warrants on Wednesday in connection with a Sunday report of a man planning to kill a woman in Carlsbad, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Deputies responded to the 5000 block of Jones Street in Carlsbad where a female said that Jeremiah Looney brought her there with the intention of killing her. Deputies searched the area for Looney but he was
not located. On Wednesday, at about 10:30 a.m., the Eddy County Sherif f’s Of fice received information that Looney was seen in the area of Happy Valley on Werewolf Hill. Deputies and detectives arrived on the scene and spotted Looney operating a white four-door vehicle. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, and a short pursuit ensued. Deputies deployed spike strips to assist in stopping
Ward Sr.
Chaves County Detention Center on a $25,000 cashonly bond. Police are still looking for Thomas Olivas, 32, of Roswell.
Ward and Olivas are alleged to have been the occupants of a vehicle from which multiple gunshots were fired at a vehicle driven by Angel Alfred Martinez, 22, of Roswell. The shooting occurred about 10 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Southeast Main and Buena Vista streets. Martinez, the lone occupant of the vehicle he was driving, was not struck by the shots, but suffered a laceration to his head as a result of being hit by glass from his vehicle that broke during the shooting. Immediately after the shooting, Martinez drove to the nearby Chaves
County administration building, where an ambulance was called. Martinez was treated and released at Easter n New Mexico Medical Center.
liquor and/or drugs and failure to provide proof of insurance. Lucero was arrested by Roswell police after a March 30 motorcycle incident at West Hendricks Street and Louisiana Avenue. Police said Lucero suffered a serious injury to his left ankle and became uncooperative and violent with emergency medical personnel and firefighters. An EMS employee said Lucero became upset with him for drawing blood. “You’re not drawing my blood for alcohol,” Lucero
said, according to court records. “Mr. Lucero then punched an EMS employee in the face. Mr. Lucero then spit on the same EMS employee.” Police said Lucero was placed in handcuf fs because of his violent behavior. The EMS employee who was battered by Lucero declined to press charges, police said. Lucero was taken to a local emergency room, where police said he smelled of alcohol and had
Olivas is a white male about 5-foot, 10-inches tall, weighing about 240 lbs., with brown eyes and black hair.
Anyone with potential information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call the Roswell Police Department at 624-6770 or Chaves County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-5948477.
Seventh DUI lands Roswell man 3-year prison sentence See ARREST, Page A6
BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Lucero
A Roswell man was arrested about 11 p.m. on Wednesday in connection to a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon in southeast Roswell. Fabian M. Ward Sr., 38, was arrested on a warrant for shooting at a dwelling or occupied building or from a motor vehicle. The arrest was made following a traffic stop that began about 10:30 p.m. near the downtown intersection of South Virginia Avenue and East Walnut Street. Ward was a passenger in the car that was stopped by an of ficer. Ward was booked into the
See RISD, Page A3
A Roswell man involved in a motorcycle crash in March has been sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of his seventh offense of driving under the influence. Mark Lucero, 49, was also sentenced Dec. 1 by 5th Judicial District Court Judge Kea Riggs to two years of parole following his prison sentence, and to a lifetime requirement of having an ignition interlock device on any vehicles he operates.
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TODAY’S FORECAST
At sentencing, the court found that Lucero had six prior DUI convictions, although it was initially thought he had two. Riggs sentenced Lucero to the maximum possible sentence on the thirddegree felony driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs, seventh or subsequent offense. Fifth Judicial District Attorney Janetta Hicks said she was pleased with the outcome of the case. “DWI is a serious crime, especially when it involves someone with as many prior convictions as Mr.
Lucero,” Hicks said. “There is always the danger of death or serious injury as a result of DWI. We are very pleased that Judge Riggs recognized the seriousness of the offense and gave Mr. Lucero the maximum penalty.”
• THOMAS LEON WHITCAMP • REBEKAH MIRANDA MCCLELLAND
• ELISA C. FLORES • ELISA NIÑO
Riggs also sentenced Lucero to 90 days incarceration for failure to provide proof of insurance. That sentence will run concurrently with his three-year DUI sentence.
Lucero, on Sept. 25, was convicted by a jury of aggravated driving under the influence of intoxicating
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A8
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B7
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
FINANCIAL ..............B5
LOTTERIES .............A2
COMICS .................B6
HOROSCOPES .......A10
See DUI, Page A2
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ............A10