Liquor and cigarettes appear to have been the motivation behind two commercial burglaries at the same location by the same suspect. Tony Gomez Vasquez, 24, of Hobbs was arrested in connection to both burglaries on Monday and charged with two counts of commercial burglary, both fourth-degree felonies, and two counts of criminal damage to property, both petty misdemeanors. On Feb. …
Auto thefts in Hobbs have doubled since this time last year. “In 2019, in February there was 10, in 2020, in February there was 20 of them. Year to date last year there was 23 at this time, in 2019 and in 2020 we’ve had 49 year to date,” said Hobbs Police Captain Shane Blevins, as of March 4. According to …
ROSWELL — A Lea County prosecutor in the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s office was arrested Friday and resigned Saturday. District Attorney Dianna Luce reported in a news release that Jonathan Michael Thomas was arrested near Roswell and charged with aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and negligent use of a firearm. “Mr. Thomas resigned his position on …
A Hobbs salon owner was arrested after allegedly grabbing a woman inappropriately while giving her a pedicure. Tuong Ta, 46, of Hobbs, was arrested Sunday after a woman came forward saying Ta allegedly groped her and held her down when she wanted to leave while she was getting her toes done at a nail salon on the 900 block E. …
Don’t get caught without a designated driver this holiday season. For a free designated driver both before and after consuming alcohol, call 575-391-2982. The Lea County DWI Program’s Tipsy Taxi service began its ninth year the weekend after Thanksgiving and will continue through New Year’s Eve. The program aims to reduce DWI crashes and arrests by offering free transportation to …
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Bail reform is working and New Mexico needs to keep moving toward a stronger justice system, a top official with the state’s court system said Monday. Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, testified before a panel of state lawmakers as critics contend the voter-approved reforms have allowed for the release of violent and …
A convicted burglar wanted on new burglary charges was arrested Monday by Hobbs police. Poetry L. Royal IV, 27, of Hobbs, was arrested Monday in connection to a Nov. 6 burglary northwest of Hobbs. He is charged with aggravated battery, a second-degree felony, and charges of conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a felon, both fourth-degree felonies. On Nov. …
Hobbsans are making it too easy for crimes to take place. Hobbs Police Department administrators are shaking their heads in disappointment over the number of vehicle burglaries and thefts taking place. Not because of the amount of crimes, which stands at 12 auto burglaries and 15 auto thefts since Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, but because of how easy the …
Just a year after being convicted of 18 burglaries, a man has landed in jail again. Anthony Kryee McCants, 22, of Hobbs, was arrested and charged with probation violation on Monday. Monday morning, Judge William Shoobridge in Fifth Judicial District Court in Lovington issued a bench warrant for McCants’ arrest for failure to comply with conditions of probation. He was …
A Hobbs man wanted on a murder charge was arrested Monday while reportedly hiding in a storage shed. Edward “Lucky” Soto, 35, is charged with an open count of murder in connection to the Oct. 4 killing of 26-year-old Eric Noel Carrasco, who was found sitting in the driver’s seat of a car that crashed alongside a building at Motel …
