Woman denies altercation at SF restaurant

Theresa Lucero says she was afraid of man who accused her of battery

SANTA FE — A Santa Fe woman says she did not use racist or foul language against a local Native American man during an encounter at a restaurant Monday.

Lee Moquino, who had protested the Fiestas de Santa Fe Entrada, told the Journal on Tuesday that Theresa Lucero had called him offensive names around 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Sunrise Family Restaurant on St. Michael’s Drive and Sixth Street.

Moquino, 32, says he went up to Lucero to say hi, but said he was escorted out by the restaurant owner after shouting at Lucero for allegedly making offensive remarks.

He filed a report with the

Santa Fe Police Department accusing Lucero of simple battery, saying that Lucero slapped his phone out of his hand after he took it out to record a video of her.

But Lucero said Wednesday that Moquino was not friendly with her and she was afraid for her safety because Moquino has a criminal past.

“Lee approached me with his camera on, and I fear him because he was arrested for battery on a household member,” Lucero said. “He bumped my table and I told him to get away from me.”

Lucero says she is part Native American and denies saying anything racist or profane to Moquino.

“I’m a disabled Hispanic woman with Native American blood,” she said. “I have the utmost respect for Native Americans and their beautiful culture, and we always got along. I don’t use the ‘F’ word in public. That’s not a word anyone should use. I have respect.”

Moquino filed his police report under the name Mark Moquino. A man named Mark Lee Moquino was arrested for battery on a household member in January 2009, but the charge was eventually dismissed.

Moquino vocally protested during the September Fiestas de Santa Fe Entrada, a re-enactment of the Spanish resettlement of Santa Fe in 1692, and claims Lucero’s actions were related to her ties to the Fiesta Council.

However, Lucero said she has never had any involvement with the Fiesta Council.