Burglary, conspiracy charged filed on Los Lunas woman
Andy Brosig/News-Sun
EUNICE – A Los Lunas woman is facing multiple felony charges including burglary and conspiracy after allegedly being being caught on video from a doorbell camera in October.
Melisa Ann Gordan, 34, was taken into custody Wednesday on warrants charging burglary of a dwelling, accessory and larceny valued at more than $2,500 but less than $20,000, all third degree felonies. She also faces an additional accessory charge along with two counts of conspiracy to commit a third-degree felony, all fourth-degree felonies.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Eunice Police Department, officers went to the 1000 block of 9th Street in Eunice the evening of Oct. 20 on a report of a burglary.
The victim reported several musical instruments and other items, valued at more than $900, were missing from the home.
When technicians examined the residence, they found doorbell cameras on both front and back doors. Video from the camera on the back door showed a woman, later identified as Gordan, and a man, later identified as Joshua Ihrig, standing near the door.
Ihrig allegedly covered the view from the camera with what appeared to be a black latex glove, according to the report, but audio from the camera was active.
On the recording a male voice, allegedly Ihrig’s, said “Are you ready to do this?” the report stated.
A female voice, allegedly Gordan’s, reportedly replied in the affirmative, followed by what appeared to be the sound of the door being forced open.
On Nov. 13, interim Eunice Police Chief John Fray notified officers Ihrig and Gordan were at the Dollar General Store on Main Street in Eunice.
Fray and another officer went to the store where an unrelated incident resulted in Gordan’s arrest on outstanding warrants and “other criminal charges,” according to the report.
When questioned later, Gordan denied breaking into the home on 9th Street or seeing Ihrig enter the home.
Even when she was informed of the doorbell camera recording, she maintained she hadn’t taken anything from the home, saying she was at the residence to meet the victim, allegedly about buying collectible coins.
According to the report, she told police she did knock on the front door and, when nobody answered, went with Ihrig to the back door and knocked.
Gordan continued to deny forcing the back door and entering the home, according to the report.
Gordan said she then walked away, allegedly leaving Ihrig at the home while she waited in a parked car “a couple of blocks away.”
Gordan said the next time she saw him was when Ihrig joined her at the car, allegedly carrying postage stamps she believed he acquired at the 9th Street home.
Gordan then told police Ihrig drove the car to the alley behind the victim’s home where he allegedly retrieved several of the items later reported stolen.
After the interviews, Gordan was jailed at the Lea County Detention Center in Lovington.
