A Thoreau woman was charged by indictment with involuntary manslaughter.

Nora Abeita, 49, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge on June 4 and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the indictment, on May 28, 2023, Abeita was driving without due caution when she killed a man.

If convicted of the current charges, Abeita faces up to eight years in prison.

The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall...

A Brimhall man was sentenced to 21 years in prison on June 4 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder of a man whose body he later burned in an attempt to conceal the evidence.

According to court documents, on July 1, 2019, an individual brought Gilbert John, Jr. a stolen car and told him to "get rid of" a person locked in the trunk. John and the individual drove around smoking meth before stopping in a remote area using back roads.

When the victim tried to escape from the trunk, John stabbed the victim repeatedly with a machete and slammed the trunk door on him. After driving the car to a residence and leaving it for days, John later towed the car to a remote area and set it on...

From May 20 through June 2 the New Mexico State Police participated in the National Occupant Protection Mobilization, Click it or Ticket Campaign. The CIOT Campaign was conducted on all roadways within the state with an emphasis on seat belt use for both drivers and passengers.

During the two-week CIOT Campaign, New Mexico State Police officers issued a total of 373 traffic citations (232 citations were for lack of seat belt usage and 21 citations were for no child restraint). Officers made a total of six arrests (one DWI arrest, and five Misdemeanor arrests).

The safety of motorists is a top priority of the New Mexico State Police and officers will continue to conduct operations...

Featured DWI

Natasha Nez

May 29, 7:44 pm

Aggravated DWI (Third)

An employee at a local fast-food restaurant reported a suspected drunk driver, leading to the arrest of a Rehoboth woman, Natasha Nez, 38.

Gallup Patrolman Alana Bradley was dispatched to the Taco Bell at 914 E. Hwy. 66 after receiving the report of the suspect going in the drive thru. She arrived at the scene and saw a vehicle matching the caller description leaving the restaurant and driving eastbound.

Bradley pulled the vehicle, a silver SUV, over in the parking lot of El Rancho at 1000 E. Hwy. 66. She met the driver, Nez, and began questioning her. Nez reportedly stated she did not have a driver’s...