KILLER SENTENCED FOR 2017 MURDER
Defendant was mistakenly released from jail due to typo
After emotional testimony, man who was mistakenly released from jail in 2017 gets 15-year sentence.
Two mothers fought for their sons — a victim and his killer — in a Bernalillo County courtroom Wednesday morning. In the end, the judge sided with the former.
Second Judicial District Court Judge Cristina Jaramillo sentenced 32-year-old Matthew
Joe to 15 years behind bars for the death of Jaime Dimas, 36. In October Joe pleaded guilty to murder, attempted armed robbery and shooting at a dwelling or occupied building in the case.
On July 7, 2017, Joe was high on meth and trying to rob a man on a bicycle — even firing a gun into a nearby restaurant — before he fatally shot Dimas when he tried to intervene by throwing rocks at Joe.
“It’s sad the circumstance that underlies Mr. Joe’s behavior and it speaks more to the way our community has dealt with substance abuse. But that’s not an excuse,” Jaramillo said before handing down the sentence. “Choices were made to live that way, despite the fact that you have two small children . ... Despite the fact that you have a family at home ... willing to take you in and take care of you.”
Originally held on separate charges during the homicide investigation, Joe was mistakenly released from county jail in May 2017 due to an employee’s typo. He was arrested on murder charges months later by U.S. Marshals at his
mother’s home in Thoreau.
During the hourlong sentencing hearing family and friends on both sides gave emotional testimony — filled with tears, screams and name-calling — on behalf of the two men.
Anna Dimas’ voice cracked as she spoke to Jaramillo. The grieving mother slammed her fist on the podium, at one moment pointing at Joe, as she described the sleepless nights and crippling anxiety: “by the grace of God I’m still standing here.”
“The weight is on my shoulders your honor, I ask you to please give him every second of the time you can give him,” she said. “Please just think it could’ve been your family in that restaurant. And there’s not going to be another Jaime out there to help.”
Joe’s mother Lisa Nelson wept softly as she said her son turned his life around — joining the fire department in Thoreau and being a father to his children — after the slaying.
“I know the act was senseless but he still is a human being and he could be corrected for it . ... Not just put in some hole to die,” she said. “I’m sorry they can’t have their son back but please your honor, don’t take my son’s life, just because some people say that’s what should be done to him.” But a solemn Joe had the final word. “I changed who I was but I knew, eventually, I couldn’t run from this. I feel strongly that I must accept responsibility for my actions,” he said. “I cannot change what happened that day and for that I cannot stress how deeply sorry I am for taking Mr. Dimas’s life.”