Las Cruces man's 2023 murder conviction upheld

New Mexico’s Supreme Court unanimously upheld the 2023 murder conviction of a Las Cruces man, rejecting an appeal and leaving his sentence to life in prison in place.

Steven Valdez, 47, was convicted by a jury of first-degree willful and deliberate murder of his girlfriend, Brittney Skaggs; aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Marie Saenz, a friend of Skaggs; and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer in February 2022. A count of tampering with evidence was dismissed in a directed verdict by state District Judge Richard Jacquez during Valdez’s trial.

Valdez argued in his appeal that evidence of his previous abuse of Skaggs should not have been admitted at trial, and that he was wrongly blocked for changing his appointed public defender.

Prosecutors presented evidence and witness testimony showing that on Feb. 23, 2022, Valdez broke into Saenz’s home, where Skaggs was also present with bruising on her face from being struck the previous day. Saenz testified that Valdez demanded Skaggs leave with him. When she refused and Saenz ordered him to leave, Valdez hit Saenz in the face with his gun. After the two women hid in a bathroom and Skaggs ultimately complied with his demands to come out, Valdez punched and shot Skaggs before dragging her out of the residence, Saenz testified.

Other trial witnesses testified about previous instances of domestic violence by Valdez against Skaggs. The appeal argued that the value of this testimony was outweighed by the risk that it would prejudice the jury.

Jacquez had excluded some evidence about sexual assaults, the opinion noted, while allowing other testimony recounting six instances of Valdez abusing Skaggs “and reference to dozens more, including repeated burglaries, threats, and restraint of (Skaggs) from her friends and phone access.” The five justices affirmed Jacquez’s decision to admit that evidence under court rules guiding the trial judge’s discretion.

Valdez also argued that after a breakdown in communication with his defense attorney, he was denied effective representation. Valdez had sought to change attorneys, but after a hearing on the matter, Jacquez denied Valdez’s motion.

The justices upheld the district judge on this point as well.

“In our view, the district court allowed ample, sometimes extensive, opportunity for Defendant to explain the reasons he wanted to change appointed counsel,” Vigil’s opinion read.

The opinion leaves the sentence of life in prison plus 13 years to stand, with Valdez required by law to serve a minimum of 30 years before he can be considered for parole.

“If there are facts outside the record that Defendant believes can support relief, he may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus,” the opinion concluded.

Algernon D’Ammassa is the Journal’s southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.