Judge: Killer’s plea withdrawal denied

ALBUQUERQUE — A judge has denied a convicted killer’s attempt to get out of prison by trying to withdraw his guilty plea in the murders of five people in New Mexico between 2005 and 2008.

Clifton Bloomfield pleaded guilty in 2008 and was sentenced to 195 years in prison.

Late last year, Bloomfield filed a writ of habeas corpus to withdraw his plea.

The Office of the Attorney General Criminal Appeals Division argued in December that Bloomfield’s petition should be dismissed.

Second Judicial District Court Judge Benjamin Chavez agreed with the Attorney General’s Office on Thursday.

Bloomfield was convicted of killing 37-year-old Carlos Esquibel in October 2005 and Josephine Selvage three days later.

He also was charged with murdering Tak and Pung Yi in December 2007 and 40-year-old Scott Pierce in June 2008.