First Judicial District Attorney

10/24/2026

New Mexico food banks say that more veterans have been asking for services due to SNAP cuts while running low on food for pantries.

10/24/2026

SENTENCING | State of New Mexico v. Manuel Joseph Martinez (D-101-CR-2024-00436)

On Friday, October 23, 2026, a District Court Judge sentenced Manuel Joseph Martinez to 35 years at the New Mexico Department of Corrections for the September 30, 2024, murders of 23-year-old Ebony Faith Martinez and 19-year-old Abraham Dominic Romo in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Martinez pleaded guilty on May 7, 2026, to two counts of Second-Degree Murder, each carrying a fi***rm enhancement, for the deaths of Ebony Martinez and Abraham Romo. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the sentences for the two murders were to run consecutively, with a maximum agreed period of incarceration of 35 years. Judge Lidyard imposed the maximum 35-year prison sentence allowed under the plea agreement.

On the evening of September 30, 2024, Santa Fe Police Department officers responded to an incident near Siringo Road and Camino Consuelo, where they discovered a vehicle that had veered into an arroyo. Inside, officers found Ebony Martinez and Abraham Romo, both suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. More than two years after the deaths of Ebony and Abraham, today's sentencing marks a significant step toward accountability for the loss of two young lives.

The First Judicial District Attorney's Office recognizes the impact of this tragedy extends beyond the courtroom and hopes that today's sentencing brings some measure of closure to their loved ones.

Santa Fe Police Department

10/23/2026

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF VOTERS!

Today, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies had the wonderful opportunity to visit 5th grade students at Rio Grande School in Santa Fe to talk about civic duty, democracy, and the importance of making your voice heard!

With the upcoming November 3 election just around the corner, DA Carmack-Altwies shared why voting matters, how elections shape our communities, and why civic participation is an important responsibility we all share.

The Santa Fe County Clerk's Office offers a wonderful opportunity for children to experience democracy firsthand! Students who accompany their parents to the County Clerk's Office in Santa Fe can participate in a mock voting experience using practice ballots, giving them a chance to learn how voting works before they're old enough to cast their own ballots.

We encourage families to make voting a learning experience. Bring your children to the polls, talk with them about the election process, and help them understand that every voice matters.

A special thank you to Rio Grande School for welcoming DA Carmack-Altwies and giving us the opportunity to connect with these bright young minds and Santa Fe County Clerk office!

Today's students are tomorrow's voters, community leaders, and public servants.

10/23/2026

PRETRIAL DETENTION GRANTED | State v. Alex O. Ortiz
(D-101-PD-2026-00103)

A District Court Judge granted the State’s motion for pretrial detention of Alex O. Ortiz, who faces the following charges:

- Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member (Strangulation or Suffocation)
- Three Counts of Child Abuse (No Death or Great Bodily Harm, Second or Subsequent Offense)
- Assault Against a Household Member
- Battery Against a Household Member

Ortiz will remain in custody pending trial. The case is assigned to our trial team.

10/23/2026

SENTENCING | State of New Mexico v. Isaac Samson Apodaca & State of New Mexico v. Kiara McCulley

Today, a District Court Judge sentenced Isaac Samson Apodaca and Kiara McCulley for their roles in the October 29, 2022, murder of 21-year-old Grace Jennings in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The sentences bring a significant chapter of this case to a close, nearly four years after the crime occurred.

In State v. Isaac Samson Apodaca (D-101-CR-2023-00025), Judge Ellington sentenced Apodaca to life in prison plus an additional 15 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. Apodaca must serve 30 years of his life sentence before becoming eligible for parole, without good-time deductions. The additional 15-year sentence for conspiracy is to be served first. The sentencing follows an extensive investigation and prosecution, culminating in a jury trial in July 2026, when a Santa Fe County jury found Apodaca guilty of First-Degree Murder (Willful and Deliberate) and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder.

In State v. Kiara McCulley (D-101-CR-2023-00068), Judge Ellington sentenced McCulley to 30 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections, followed by five years of supervised probation. McCulley pleaded guilty in February 2025 to Aggravated Second-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder. As part of her plea agreement, McCulley was required to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against Apodaca during his jury trial.

The FJDA recognizes Deputy District Attorney Haley W. Murphy, Chief Deputy District Attorney Anthony Long, and the entire prosecution team and to Santa Fe Police Department for their dedication and diligent work in this case. We also extend our gratitude to the members of the jury for their service and careful consideration of the testimony and evidence presented during trial.

These sentences underscore the First Judicial District Attorney's Office's commitment to protecting the safety of the communities we serve.

Santa Fe Police Department

10/22/2026

GUILTY VERDICT | State v. Fernando Espinoza (D-117-CR-2026-00022)

Yesterday, a Rio Arriba County jury found Fernando Espinoza GUILTY of the following charges stemming from an incident on January 20, 2026:

• Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer
• Aggravated Assault upon a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon

The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office recognizes the outstanding work of Senior Trial Attorney Kathryn McEnry and Assistant District Attorney Kim Weston, along with the entire Rio Arriba team, especially Ashley Mendez and Erin Martinez.

We also extend our appreciation to the Española Police Department, particularly newly sworn Officer Daniel Aragon, Officer Anthony Martinez, and Officer Justin Chavez, for their diligent investigative work and commitment to public safety.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 2026.

10/21/2026

2026 FALL/WINTER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Curious about a career in criminal justice? Interested in public service? The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office invites you to explore an internship that could help shape your future career! Whether you're considering a career in law, criminal justice, government, or public service, this is an opportunity to gain valuable experience, strengthen your résumé, and explore where your career could take you.

Your future career starts with experience. Why not start here?

📩 INTERESTED? Email [email protected]

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

Most social media platforms provide child safety and content moderation features to help protect young users from harmful content and experiences. Do they work? Will changes required by lawsuits help? On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry discusses recent research into these questions with Dr. Laura Edelson, Assistant Professor at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Science and Co-Director of Cybersecurity for Democracy. Dr. Edelson highlights the need for greater transparency and data access so that researchers can better identify potential harms of social media, and describes her research findings on algorithmic feeds as well as the efficacy of youth safety features and content moderation. In the absence of platform features that truly work to protect children, Dr. Edelson provides tips for parents on navigating social media use by their children.

🔉https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/do-social-media-child-safety-and-content-moderation-features-work-laura-edelson-phd/

Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development

10/21/2026

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