The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico • 2

Jan. 15-21, 2X4 Local News The News- Eresquez murder trial to bean' Tuesday in Raton courtroom A2 Suspect rejected plea could face more than 67 years in prison for those crimes. Fresquez rejected a plea Monday Sept 8, 2003 prepared by his attorneys, and the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office combining the; charges in the murder of LeAnne Martinez and the Southside Spa area" rape case. The hearing, in District Judge Sara Sanchez's court, was held in Rat6n after a request for a change of venue was granted Aug. 27, 2003.

Fresquez was expected to agree to the plea reached by his attorney, Gary Mitchell, and Eighth Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos in a Raton court room Monday morning, but announced he had changed his mind. "No, I don't want to do it anymore," he said. The deal was for a sentence of life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years for the slaying of Martmez. The agreement also included an additional 27 years for charges in the rape of a local business woman. Defense co-counsel Abagail Arag6n, who was with in-; court, asked the judge for time to talk with her client According to District Attorney Donald Gallegos, the defense came back to say Fresquez would, accept the agreement if he could, plead guilty, but mentally ilL That was not acceptable to Galler gos, who said he was not really surprised.

"It's no big deal to us. We're ready, we'll try this." Gallegos said his office is more than prepared to take the case to trial; When a trial will occur on the separate rape charge, which had been included in "the plea agreement, is not yet known. I I I Mumt i i- nun in mi in ir 1 nearly 70yearsihr prison if comicted By Betsy Phillips The Taos News Barring a last-minute plea agreement, jury' selection will begin in Rat6n TUesday (Jan. 20) for the murderrape trial of Richard Sabino Fresquez. Fresquez is accused of the July 14, 2002 murder of LeAnne Martinez.

Martinez' body was discovered by a "family member in her home, 344 Chamisa Road, in Ranchos de Taos. Fresquez was an acquaintance of Martmez, according to investigators on the case. He left Taos in Martinez's car the day of her murder. The first warrant issued for his arrest during his flight in Martinez's car was for violating probation by leaving Taos County. Fresquez was incarcerated May 15, 2001 for convictions on commercial burglary, breaking and entering, and vehicle burglary charges.

Gerges Scott, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Corrections, said Fresquez spent time at the Lee County facility in Hobbs, Western. New Mexico Correctional Institution in Grants, and the Central New Mexico institute in Los. Lunas. He was released March 26, 2002. When he fled the Taos area, he was seen first in Santa Fe, then on several occasions in Albuquerque, where police located and staked out (he Phillips Richard Fresquez, shown here In May, 2003 near District Court, is charged with the murder and rape of LeAnne Martinez.

woman. The caller also told them where they were likely to be headed. U.S. marshals from California set up surveillance at the woman's residence in -India and Frdsquez was arrested July 20, 2002 without incident. Murder is not the only felony charge Fresquez faces.

He was arraigned Oct. 17, 2002 in Eighth Judicial District Court on 13 felony counts related to the Southside Spa area rape case. Fresquez was then indicted by a grand jury on charges "of. attempted murder, four counts of criminal sexual penetration, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, robbery, tampering with evidence, breaking and entering, false imprisonment and two counts of criminal sexual contact If convicted on all counts, Fresquez vehicle July 16. But Fresquez never returned to the car, and was later discovered to have left an Albuquerque residence in the company of an unidentified woman.

According to Maj. Louie Medina of the New Mexico State Police, during the course of their investigation, the State Police received a call from an informant who told officers Fresquez was on his way to California with the Deputies nab robber, find drugs in getaway car BL0TT Friday (Jan. 9) a man reported that his son had let someone ride his scooter on the plaza and the person never returned. A female caller told dispatchers she had seen two guys driving a light brown truck assault another male and steal his backpack near 900 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. She said the New Mexico license plate number on the truck Was 507 NCZ.

Taos Police Department Call Log A commercial burglary was reported at the UPS Store, 1008 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Tuesday (Jan. 6). Police were alerted by an alarm and discovered the back door open. The door had been forced open, and it appeared someone attempted to gain entry to the safe. the alleged robber had asked him for change while he was using a pay phone, then grabbed the bag with the money in it from him He said he had such a large amount of cash ($2,500) with him because he was on his way to purchase a car.

Stechel denied knowing Martinez, saying the suspect got into his vehicle as Stechel was leaving the gas station, shouting, "Go, go." He said he was scared, so he drove away, stopping when he saw the deputy's cruiser behind him. Inside Stechel's car, deputies found small baggies and a large backpack containing what appeared to be narcotics. The substances field-tested positive for heroin, cocaine and marijuana By Betsy Phillips TheTaosNews A man was robbed of $2,500 cash in front of the north Texaco station When deputies caught up with the alleged perpetrator, they found not only the cash, but heroin, cocaine and marijuana. Miguel Martmez, 23, was arraigned in Judge Betty Martmez' magistrate court in Taos Wednesday and ordered held on $45,000 cash-only bond for allegedly stealing the money and resisting, obstructing or evading an officer. David Stechel, 25, who was allegedly driving the car in which Martmez was attempting to escape, was charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

His bond was set at $50,000. According to court docu ments, Taos County Deputy Anthony Trujillo was on patrol near the gas station when he saw a man chasing another man on foot The man being chased got into a white vehicle, which was stopped by the deputy on Millicent Rogers Road. Martinez got out of the vehicle and ran into a fenced field, and did not come back to the car when he was directed, asking, "Why? I didn't do anything." Martmez instead ran north on a back road near some houses. StecheL the driver of the car, said he didn't know what was going on and didn't know his passenger. Sheriff Charlie Martinez and three deputies then arrived at the scene and assisted with the apprehension of Martinez.

The officers also located paperwork belonging tp the victim near where Martinez was arrested. The victim told police that (COTrAMyWALKERy it i '(Mr BRIEFLY 4 The drowning was ruled to be acddental. Cornelia deBruiri KM5P Saturation Patrol this weekend New Mexico State Police officers will be executing a saturation patrol from Thursday (Jan. IS) through Saturday (Jan. 17) throughout Taos County.

Officials say numerous officers will be on patrol, mainly looking for those who may be driving while under the Influence of alcohol or drugs. Staff report man drowns InPJoGrandt The victim of a weekend drowning at the County Line River Access area at the south end of Taos County Saturday (Jan. 10) was a Chimay6 resident New Mexico State Police Lt Robert San Roman identified the victim as Isaac DeAguero, 27, of Chimayo. DeAguero was fishing in the Rio Grande with his girlfriend when investigators theorize he slipped or fell into the river and drowned. They did not release the name of the woman with DeAguero.

2000 Ford Focus F734 ac, low miles $6,893 2001 Oldsmoblle Intrigue 41020A auto.low miles $9,293 2003 Ford Focus Wagon F7M auto, ac, clean $11 ,993 2003 Ford Taurus SES F812 ah power, nice $12,993 2003 Ford Mustang F813 vs auto, low miles $13,893 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse 21087B spyde convertible $14,693 2001 Mercury GR Marquis UATHtB, loaded $16,293 Gene Sanchez Candidate for Town Council "Up Front For Taos" Setting the Record Straight! During a special meeting on Dec. 4th held at 8:30 AM, my opponent for the upcoming Town Council Race, Rudy Abeyta voted to put forth a referendum on the March 2nd ballot that would 1097 Ford Explorer XLS 21.11.1 a 4x4. 4 on $9,793 2000 Chevy Blazer 21072A speed, clean $12,293 2000 Ford Explorer F64? a on, sport, 4X4 $12,993 2002 Jeep Wrangler P1294 urtjprr, soft top, nice $14,893. 2002 Ford Windstar mo loaded, family van $15,893 2002 Subaru Forester 31020A auto, clean $17,293 2003 Ford Escape fbi4 4X4, auto, vs $18,893 2000 Chevy Tahoe 271 31010A leather, loaded $21,493 2001 Ford Ranger fsio clean, low miles, 4x2 $8,993 2001 Chevy SI 0 Cab 31112A auto, ls, nice $10,493 2002 Chevy 1500 Reg Cab fbisa 4x2, Auto, atrans, vs, low miles $13,693 2001 Ford F-1 50 4x4 F1290 super cab, loaded $17,893 2003 Ford Ranger Cab fbt7 4x4, auto, loaded $17,993 2001 Ford F1 50 Crew 41031 a 4x4, xlt, loaded $22,893 2002 Ford F250 Cab 3341 A 4x4. xlt.

lift-kit, swtrri $27,493 significantly raise the property tax for the purpose of improving our Police Department At that meeting I laid, while I support putting more officers on the street, we already had the money in the General Fund. I told them I strongly oppose this tax. Again, on December 16, 1 went before the Town Council to voice my opposition to this referendum because THE MONEY IS ALREADY IN THE GENERAL FUND. As a result this tax has been removed from the ballot I am proud to have been the catalyst that initiated this change. 1 thank all my supporters who stand beside me.

1 look forward to hearing from you. Vote for Gene Sanchez for Town Council Sencsanchczetoosnctcom 758-2343 My entire Town Councl statement from December 16 Is available upon request tar by Mtmt Timber, Vumw tor Ottztm far 9nt Urxhtt liiiilAUitliihl.l Taos, fif Mexico 17171 11SO Paseo Del Pueblo Sur 75U 3209 WtWi apfrovt credit HtBATf Nr VMct PrteM InctuO Factory KfttM FMCC tov Cadi. t-, Ptiitf for ttum. Bonui Cufi ATiHift't VCC Hnielr 9 Pnt. TtMcfi rt Vtrt fru-n MrloariBM 8gwn,.