Around New Mexico

It was a bad night for a suspected burglar who allegedly broke into a store while Albuquerque’s chief of police happened to be watching.

Ray Schultz observed Frank Antonio, 30, enter Window World, 2029 Candelaria NE, around 11:40 p.m. Friday, according to a criminal complaint. Antonio allegedly broke two south-facing windows to gain entry.

Antonio left the building when ordered by Schultz. Police say he was drunk and stole a phone from the business, according to the complaint. He was arrested for commercial burglary.

Dismissal of fetus suit upheld

ROSWELL — A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a nationally watched lawsuit in which students in a conservative Roswell religious group challenged school officials’ response to their handing out rubber fetuses.

The 10th Circuit of Appeals ruled Monday that a federal magistrate judge was correct in ruling that the Roswell Independent School District had the authority to stop the distribution of 2-inch rubber fetuses at Goddard and Roswell high schools in 2010.

Members of Relentless in Roswell, a youth group affiliated with Church on the Move, sued the school district after officials halted the distribution of the dolls. The dolls contained a Bible verse and contact information for a Church on the Move-linked pregnancy resource center.

Relentless attorneys said the students’ rights to free speech were being violated.

Gov. vetoes legislative funds

SANTA FE — The Democratic-controlled Legislature didn’t escape the veto pen of Gov. Susana Martinez.

The Republican governor last week vetoed several spending items for the Legislature in a state budget bill.

Martinez rejected $750,000 for the Legislative Finance Committee and Legislative Council Service for consulting and monitoring of her administration’s efforts to upgrade a computerized accounting system and balance the state’s checkbook.

The governor also eliminated $50,000 for budget committees to start meeting next January shortly before the Legislature is to convene for a 30-day session. Traditionally, legislators start work on the budget about a week before the session begins.

The Legislature’s cash balances would have covered the proposed spending.

Interim principal appointed

Albuquerque Public Schools officials have named an interim principal at Jimmy Carter Middle School, after the former principal and dean of students were placed on paid leave last week pending an investigation of their conduct.

Amy Mahr, who was most recently assistant principal of Ernie Pyle Middle School, will be principal of Jimmy Carter for the rest of the school year.

The district is investigating whether administrators violated APS policy by failing to notify the parents of several sixth-graders who were suspended. One of the students, an 11-year-old boy, was missing for two nights before he was found with his grandparents.

2 plead not guilty in robberies

Authorities say two Albuquerque men have pleaded not guilty to federal charges involving armed robberies and carjackings in the city.

Prosecutors say 19-year-old Joel Meeks and 20-year-old Raul Ortega were arraigned Monday on an eight-count indictment.

The two were ordered detained pending trial, which hasn’t been scheduled.

The indictment alleges that Meeks robbed two Albuquerque businesses on consecutive days last December and discharged a firearm during one of the heists.

Prosecutors say Meeks and Ortega carjacked two vehicles in January.
— This article appeared on page C2 of the Albuquerque Journal