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Thursday, February 04, 2010
Convict Still Licensed Engineer
By Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Journal Staff Writer
Raul Parra is serving time in a South Dakota federal prison for his role in the Metro Court corruption case, but he's still a licensed engineer in New Mexico.
In October 2008, Parra pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud in the case and was sentenced to about four years in prison.
Edward Ytuarte, executive director of the New Mexico State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors, said Parra submitted a request to renew his license after it expired Dec. 31, 2008.
Ytuarte said Parra acknowledged on the renewal form that he had been convicted of a felony, but he did not provide a required letter explaining the circumstances of the conviction.
Ytuarte said when the board notified Parra that he needed to submit the letter, Parra instead asked the board to have his license declared inactive. With that status, he would be able to request reactivation of his license.
The board in April 2009 declined to give Parra inactive status but delayed taking any other action until its staff reviewed the case further, Chairman Charles Atwell said.
Atwell said the board intends to take up the issue again at its next meeting in April.
According to New Mexico state law, the board may revoke the license of engineers who violate its policies, and one of the revocable offenses is a felony conviction.
Marc Schiff, an architect who also pleaded guilty in the courthouse scandal, had his license revoked by the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects.
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