Reese family to get new trial, judge rules

In a decision issued today, a federal judge gave a new trial to three members of a Deming family convicted last year of making false statements in a firearms sting. U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Brack granted two motions filed in December by attorneys for Rick Reese, his wife Terri Reese and their son Ryin Reese. The first had asked for a new trial because of Sixth Amendment violations; and the second had sought conditional release of the jailed family members. In explaining his decision, Brack wrote, in part, that evidence "intentionally or negligently" suppressed by the government "could have easily altered the outcome of the trial." In a prepared statement, the U.S. Attorney's Office said it is reviewing the order and "assessing whether it will seek to file an appeal." A new trial date has not been set. Doña Ana County Detention Center records show Rick Reese, 57, and Ryin Reese, 25, were still in custody as of Friday night. Terri Reese had been released last year. The Reeses had operated a gun store, where some of the alleged crimes occured. Jason Bowles, Ryin Reese's attorney, said he was "ecstatic" when he received the email letting him know Brack had filed his decision, and it was in his client's favor...more