Former Las Cruces Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza, who was ousted from the bench in 2006, was arrested earlier this week for failing to appear in the court he once presided over, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting.

Garza, 44, had been scheduled to appear for trial in Magistrate Court on March 24 after pleading not guilty to three traffic citations he received on Dec. 13, 2007, the Sun-News said.

He failed to appear for trial and a warrant was issued for his arrest, the paper reported.

The citations were for driving on a suspended or revoked license, failure to display registered plates and going 11 to 15 mph over the posted speed limit, the Sun-News reported.

Garza was removed from the bench over allegations that he presided over a case involving a woman he was dating, the paper said.

In September 2006 he failed a drug test and later challenged the results, according to the Sun-News.

Despite the allegations against him, Garza was re-elected in November 2006, but the day after the election the state Supreme Court removed him from the bench and banned him from ever seeking a judgeship in New Mexico, the Sun-News said.

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