(The following article by Jim Maniaci was posted on the Gallup Independent website on August 17.)
GRANTS, N.M. — The Cibola County Grand Jury has issued charges against four people allegedly involved in a pre-Christmas railroad burglary.
Deputy District Attorney Randolph Collins obtained four counts each against three of the four for allegedly stealing items and three counts against the alleged fence who is charged with taking most of the items off the trio’s hands.
The indictments, one method of charging that someone committed a crime so that the case can begin its journey through the judicial system, claim the thefts took place Dec. 13-18 from a railroad freight car at the BNSF Railway’s Mile Post 107.
According to the Grand Jury charges:
* John Oliver Darby, 29, committed two 4th-degree felonies by going into the boxcar, thus showing “intent to commit a theft,” because he allegedly swiped different two types of merchandise. He also is alleged to have taken part in two larcenies third degree felonies of more than $2,500 involving 15 SUNL Electric Scooters belonging to the railroad and 85 Memphis Stereo car speakers also belonging to BNSF with a value of more than $2,500.
* Corky Young, 26, is alleged to have done what Darby did, except that he is alleged to have been involved in the theft of only 80, instead of 85, of the car speakers.
* Jesse Derrick, 19, faces three counts, starting with receiving stolen property by disposing of it, with a value of $250 or more, for three of the electric scooters, which is a 4th-degree felony; for commercial burglary, a 4th-degree felony; and for larceny of more than $2,500 for carrying away an unlisted number of the car speakers, a 3rd-degree felony.
* Travis D. Derrick, 46, with one count of receiving stolen property for more than $2,500, a 3rd-degree felony, for disposing of three of the electric scooters, 10 individual boxes and three cases of the car stereos.
The following also are recent Grand Jury indictments charging individuals with allegedly committing crimes.
* James B. Barber, 57, allegedly committed aggravated assault with a deadly weapon a knife on a peace officer, New Mexico State Police Officer William Cunningham, on June 17, which is a 3rd-degree felony.
* Kendall W. Grinold, 19, four counts from a Nov. 24 incident including assault, a petty misdemeanor, for threatening; breaking and entering through a window, a 4th-degree felony, at the Timberlake Realty office in rural Ramah and/or attempted breaking and entering; criminal trespass on private land, a misdemeanor, because consent to enter or remain was denied or withdrawn; and obstructing a peace officer in the performance of duty, a misdemeanor, when Colt White attempted to serve papers.
* Dallas Bulger, 44, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon a 1986 Oldsmobile from a Feb. 17, 2004, incident in which he allegedly tried to run over Augustine Chavez and Clemente Garcia. Both counts are 4th-degree felonies.
* Raymond Joe, 29, three counts from a Feb. 18 incident in which he is alleged to have committed aggravated battery involving great bodily harm with a knife on Cheryl House, a 3rd-degree felony, along with falsely imprisoning her, a 4th-degree felony and assault against another household member with intent to commit the violent felony of robbery, a 3rd-degree felony.
* Robert Malone, 25, seven counts from a July 17 incident starting with kidnapping involving great bodily harm of a woman, a 1st-degree felony; forced criminal sex, a 1st-degree felony; false imprisonment, a 4th-degree felony; tampering with evidence by hiding a cellular telephone to prevent his apprehension, a 4th-degree felony; threatening to bribe a witness (the victim), a 4th-degree felony; assault with intent to commit a violent felony (rape), a 3rd-degree felony; and aggravated battery with great bodily harm, a 3rd-degree felony.
* Lester Court, 22, one county of aggravated battery with great bodily harm, a 3rd-degree felony, from a July 15 incident against David Townsend.
* Jeanette Vallo, 46, one count of a 2nd-degree felony, trafficking in cocaine, a controlled substance by distributing it, from a March 26 incident.
* Tommy Largo, 29, two counts, both 4th-degree felonies, of providing alcohol to minors by possessing the booze on Jan. 14 to provide to two of them.
In a criminal information, another way of initiating legal charges against a defendant, Assistant District Attorney Michael Caruso charged Joseph V. Valdez, 22, of Grants with six crimes in a May 30 incident.:
* Kidnapping Mike Ortiz, a 1st-degree felony.
* Armed robbery, a 2nd-degree felony, for taking Ortiz’s 2001 Lincoln Town Car while armed with a handgun and threatening to use it.
* Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, for hitting the victim with the handgun.
* Unlawful taking of a vehicle (the Town Car), a 4th-degree felony.
* Tampering with evidence, a 4th-degree felony, for trying to hide the handgun.
* Tampering with evidence, a 4th-degree felony, for trying to hide the car.