Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 124, No. 126 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
May 27, 2015
Wednesday
www.rdrnews.com
Murder suspect arrested in California
By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer
A Roswell man wanted on a murder warrant for allegedly killing a man outside a Roswell home in October 2013 has been arrested and is awaiting extradition to New Mexico. Steve Guardado, aka “Panson” and “Gordo,” was arrested May 15 during a traffic stop in Modesto, California, Roswell Police Department Public Information Officer Todd Wildermuth said Tuesday. Wildermuth said Modesto police found Guardado as a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop at about 6:40 p.m. May 15. Modesto police
said a known Modesto gang member was also in the vehicle. Modesto police learned Guardado was wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in Roswell. Guardado, also known as Steven Gonzalez Guardado, had been a fugitive since Chaves County authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on April 29. According to authorities, Guardado, 27, shot and killed Stormy Joel Vargas the night of Oct. 25, 2013, after luring Vargas outside his home at 614 E. Cherry St. in Roswell. Vargas, 22, was shot once on the right side of his forehead, authorities said.
Guardado, who is awaiting extradition to New Mexico, was thought to possibly be in California since it is believed he formerly lived in Modesto and has ties to San Jose, California. Police said Guardado hastily left Roswell shortly after Vargas’ murder. Investigators obtained a warrant for Guardado’s arrest after a lengthy investigation of the October 2013 murder of Vargas. According to a criminal complaint, Guardado shot and killed Vargas in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Victor Oaxaca Jr. that occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2013, outside Variety Liquor
and Lounge at 1100 W. Second St. in Roswell. Christopher M. Trujillo, 26, was sentenced in April in Fifth Judicial District Court to eight years in prison on voluntary manslaughter and firearm charges for the murder of the 25-year-old Oaxaca. Trujillo’s sentence was enhanced by Fifth Judicial District Judge Freddie Romero because Trujillo is a habitual offender and prior felon. Trujillo also received credit for 540 days served in the Chaves County Detention Center following his arrest. According to a 19-page criminal complaint charging Guardado with Vargas’ murder, Guardado shot and killed
Springtime in the park
Guardado Vargas at about 7:38 p.m. Oct. 25, 2013, because Guardado believed Vargas had set up Oaxaca to be killed outside Variety Liquor and Lounge the
Teen runaway is subject of police standoff By Jared Tucker Multimedia Journalist
Katy Ross Photo
Annalycia and Christy Anna (sisters) and Santiago (cousin) go down a slide together. From front to back, Santiago, Christy Anna and Annalycia.
night of Oct. 23, 2013. Police said Oaxaca died after sustaining two gunshot wounds, one in his back and one in the back of his thigh, after Trujillo fired four .40-caliber shots outside the bar. Witnesses said Guardado showed up at Vargas’ home the night of Oct. 25, 2013, and knocked on the front door. Vargas went outside to talk to Guardado and was shot once in the head within 30 seconds of stepping outside, court records state. Police said a spent 9 mm shell casing was found in the front yard of Vargas’ home. Police also recovered a shot-
A teenage male runaway was the subject of a short standoff with police Tuesday around 2:30 p.m., according to police. Details are minimal at this time, but Roswell Police Public Information Officer Todd Wildermuth said the boy was reported as a runaway recently, and fled from Chaves County Sheriff’s deputies Monday. Authorities received information that he was at a home on Plains Park Drive just West of Union Avenue, Wildermuth said. Roswell Police responded to the home and announced over a PA speaker for the occupants to come out. The Daily Record’s Jared Tucker heard a flash-bang grenade deployed while en route to the scene. The standoff lasted about 30 minutes, Wildermuth said. Further details couldn’t be obtained from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday afternoon.
See GUARDADO, Page A3
Pre-prosecution program considered for fake robber
One of three former Russell Cellular employees who admitted to police he and two of his co-workers made up a fake robbery story at a cell phone shop in downtown Roswell March 11 is seeking the Pre-Prosecution Diversion Program as an alternative to possible prison time and a felony conviction. The Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office is in the process of determining if Joshua Fitisemanu, 25, qualifies for the program. During his arraignment Tuesday, prosecutors told District Court Judge Freddie J. Romero that Fitisemanu needs to do an intake interview with the coordinator of the program. The program, according to New Mexico state law 31-16A1, is designed to, “remove those persons from the criminal justice system who are most See LOCAL, Page A3
Med students headed to Roswell Schedule for summer movies By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer
Three medical school students are headed to Roswell to work with local health care providers throughout the summer, in hopes they’ll catch the bug to further pursue their medical careers in the Alien City. The first-year medical students from the University of New Mexico will work with local primary care physicians from July 6 through Aug. 14. Matthew Solomon will work with primary care Dr. Gabriele Stiller, Mary Geeze will work with family practitioner Dr. Ana Arnett and Lea Lucero with work with Dr. Karen Lynn Carson, a pediatrician who was recently appointed by the governor to the New Mexico Medical Board. “They’re all very interested in coming down here and seeing what it’s all about,” said Greg Neal, a member of the Mayor’s Healthcare Solutions Committee.
Staff Report
Jeff Tucker Photo
Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh and Dorothy Hellums, chair of the Mayor’s Healthcare Solutions Committee, discuss efforts to recruit and retain physicians during last week’s committee meeting. Three first-year medical school students are headed to Roswell to work with local health care providers throughout the summer. The students, who will stay at a local physician’s home during their six-week tenure in Roswell, will write a clinical report every week and perform a community service project. The program is sponsored by UNM. This is the first year in several years UNM has sponsored the rural preceptors program in Roswell. The news of the student’s pending arrival
Today’s Forecast
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was announced at last week’s meeting of the Mayor’s Healthcare Solutions Committee, whose mission is to recruit and retain health care professionals in the Roswell community. “They want to experience Roswell,” said Dorothy Hellums, chair of the Mayor’s Healthcare Solutions Committee. “Hopefully, out of some of this, we can encourage some young doctors to keep
looking at Roswell. “When you talk about recruitment, you need to immediately start talking about retention, because they go hand-in-hand.” The committee will host a reception for the medical school students at 5 p.m. July 8 at The Liberty. Staff Writer Jeff Tucker may be contacted at 575622-7710, ext. 303, or at reporter01@rdrnews.com.
The City of Roswell is hosting free movies throughout the summer, with the majority of the family oriented movies being shown at Cielo Recreation Area. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs as well as bug spray. Movie goers are allowed to bring their own snacks, and Girl Scouts will be on hand with concessions. No smoking, pets, or consumption of alcohol are permitted. Movies will begin around 8:30 p.m., and there are extra activities planned prior to each movie.
State Briefs Two dead after cherry picker accident
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Albuquerque police say two people are dead after the cherry picker they were standing in was thrown by a gust of wind.
• Eva Mae Roberts
• Donald E. Quesenberry • Bob H. Whitaker
Police were called around 1:45 p.m. Sunday to respond to a report of an equipment failure and multiple juveniles injured near Cochiti Road and Dorothy Street. KOB-TV in Albuquerque See STATE, Page A3
Index
Today’s Obituaries Page A6
• James Robert Kisselburg • Zora B. Lykins • Jerry Mowat • Theresa Puckett
There is the schedule, which is subject to change. • May 30 — “Paddington” • June 6 — “Big Hero 6” • June 13 — “Dolphin Tale 2” • June 20 — “The Goonies” • June 27 — “The Neverending Story” • July 2 — “Earth to Echo” (Roswell Civic Center) • July 7 — “Box Trolls” (Cahoon Park) • July 18 “Strange Magic” • July 25 — “Planes: Fire and Rescue” • Aug. 1 — “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” • Aug. 8 — “Cinderella”
Classifieds...........B6 Comics..................B5 Financial..............B3 General...............A2
Horoscopes.........A8
Opinion.................A4
Lotteries. ............A2
Sports. ................B1
Nation..................A6
Weather...............A8