COURT ROUNDUP

Gregg Steele

Gregg Steele was convicted in February of the murder of World Cup Cafe owner Patrick Larkin. After a jury deliberated for an hour, they came back with a guilty verdict for all charges: second degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence.

Steele is set to go before Eighth Judicial District Judge Jeffrey Shannon for sentencing on May 27 at 3 p.m. However, Steele’s lawyer Thomas Clark filed a motion last week (May 12) for a new trial altogether, claiming that it would have been impossible for a reasonable jury to convict a man in such a short amount of time.

Clark also argued that due the fact the trial took place during COVID, and social distancing requirements were in place, that it unfairly prejudiced Steele.

The district attorney’s office said otherwise. In a statement, Eight Judicial District Attorney Marcus Montoya said that his office “prosecuted defendant Steele ethically, fairly, and within the legal COVID guidelines set forth by the New Mexico Supreme Court in taking this case to trial.”

Montoya also said that “the jury had all night to think about the law and the facts, and the verdict belongs to the jury, not to the state or to the defendant. Americans have seen trials in person and on national television during this pandemic and though no trial is ever perfect, what matters most is that the trial is fair. Defendant Steele was provided an ethical, legal, and fair trial.”

As of press time, the sentencing on May 27 is set to go forward.

Cory Valdez

Cory Valdez was arrested May 6 on nine counts of child abuse and three counts of child sexual penetration in the first, second, and third degree for abusing two of his adopted children. After being arrested, District Attorney Marcus Montoya’s office filed a motion for a no-bond hold, arguing that Valdez was a danger to the community.

Eighth Judicial District Judge Emilio Chavez denied the state’s motion, stating that Valdez has a previously clean record, that the children have been taken away and will be nowhere near Valdez, and that no evidence was presented that he had harmed or threatened anyone since the original allegations.

Valdez was released on a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond on several conditions: that he have a GPS tracking device and a curfew of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; that he maintain employment and not leave the state; that he not live with Stephanie Valdez, his wife who is facing the same nine child abuse charges; and that he not have any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.

District Attorney Marcus Montoya said in a statement that “the judge reasonably found that the defendant no longer has access to our victims and has no criminal history. So we will continue to work closely with the victims and prosecute this case ethically and diligently.”

Carl Gage

Carl Gage is the masked man behind a series of burglaries throughout 2018. The Alaska man burglarized six different businesses in Taos and Red River – including KOKO Cafe, Poplov’s Games, Blake’s Lotaburger, and Southwest Wellness – and is suspected to be behind many more break-ins and burglaries in the area.

Gage is charged with 15 total charges: seven fourth degree felony, one third degree felony, and seven misdemeanors. His trial was originally set for Feb. 22, but Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Emilio Chavez granted a continuance. Gage is set to appear for a docket call on May 25, and a jury trial is scheduled for June 7 at 9 a.m.