NMAG agents raid southwestern NM district attorney’s office

Agents with the state Attorney General’s Office raided the office of a southwestern New Mexico district attorney who was stopped for suspected drunken driving this summer but never charged. “I can confirm that the Office of the Attorney General has executed warrants at the Sixth Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Grant County. This is an ongoing investigation based on a public referral,” AG spokesman James Hallinan told the Journal. Agents served search warrants and seized a state car driven by 6th Judicial District Attorney Francesca Martinez-Estevez on Tuesday. One warrant executed by the Attorney General’s Office and obtained by the Journal shows that agents were seeking any and all records related to a blue Dodge Charger that is a 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office vehicle, and the document mentions video and other evidence gathered just before and during the June traffic stop. “At this time probable cause exists to believe (Martinez-Estevez) recklessly drove a state vehicle, failed to provide immediate notice of an accident, and acted in violation of the New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act,” according to the warrant...more