Following conflicting testimony from partygoers about whether he had a gun or not, a Hobbs magistrate judge found sufficient probable cause Friday to bind over for trial the one person charged thus far in connection to a recent mass shooting in Hobbs. A New Mexico Junior College student-athlete from Chicago testified before Magistrate Judge Craig La Bree Friday at a …

The girlfriend of an inmate at the Lea County Correctional Facility reportedly told police she has trafficked thousands of dollars of drugs into prison for her boyfriend, collecting $5,000 from “grandmas” and other people outside prison walls. Brenda Rae Guerrero, of Las Vegas N.M., was arrested by the Hobbs Police Department earlier this month and charged with bringing contraband into …

A Hobbs resident reportedly tracked down an auto burglar Sunday night, leading to the arrest of the suspect on multiple auto burglary charges. Seth Alvarado, 25, of Hobbs, was arrested Sunday night and charged with three counts of auto burglary, all fourth-degree felonies, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. Hobbs police …

A murder suspect with a face full of tattoos apparently found it difficult blending into the crowd while on the lam last weekend. Police said Steven A. Salazar hid out in his cousin’s apartment complex southeast of Hobbs High School after allegedly shooting and killing a man in cold blood Thursday morning. After receiving numerous tips, Hobbs police and later …

A Hobbs man and woman believed to have been murdered were found dead in their home Monday night. Police said they are investigating the double homicide and have persons of interest in mind, although no arrests had been made as of presstime Tuesday. “We have some persons of interest that we are looking into,” said Brian Dunlap, acting Hobbs chief …

A convicted thief from Lubbock, a Hobbs woman and another Lubbock man have been charged after police say they ran out of a Hobbs department store last week with their arms loaded with nearly $5,000 of clothing and jewelry. After a traffic stop was attempted, police said the trio sped through a retail store parking lot, nearly striking two women …

A Hobbs teenager who was out of jail on bond after allegedly threatening to shoot a pregnant woman last month allegedly shot a man three times early Tuesday while robbing him of $40. Deaunte Meridyth, 19, was arrested on a warrant Thursday and charged with robbery and aggravated battery, both fourth-degree felonies, and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer, a …

The public safety director of Laguna Pueblo, a captain for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and a deputy chief/major with the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Public Schools Police Department with ties to Hobbs are the three finalists for Hobbs police chief. Jesus “Jesse” Francisco Orozco, public safety director for the Laguna Pueblo; John Joseph Ortolano, a captain for the Arizona Department …

LOVINGTON — A Hobbs man has been found guilty of sex crimes in district court. On March 27, Lorenzo Contreras, 45, was delivered the verdict of guilty from a jury of his peers in Fifth Judicial District Court on two felony charges of sexual exploitation of children under the age of 18. On May 13, Contreras was sentenced by District …