Pojoaque lieutenant governor indicted

Pojoaque Lt. Gov. Linda Diaz has been indicted in the hit-and-run death of a Chimayó man in April, KOB-TV reported Wednesday night.

The body of Phillip Espinosa, 31, was found on U.S. 84/285 at Pojoaque Pueblo after lying on the road for five to six hours, according to the Santa Fe County sheriff. More than 24 hours after Espinosa was struck, Diaz contacted tribal police and told them she had "done something very bad," the sheriff said.

A grand jury reportedly handed down the indictment Wednesday morning. Diaz faces one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident and could serve a maximum of three years in prison if she is found guilty. She could also be liable for restitution payments.

Report: Driver rams police car, flees

Santa Fe police were searching Wednesday for a 30-year-old man who rammed a police car with a stolen truck after an officer tried to pull him over, Capt. Gary Johnson said.

A Santa Fe police officer who spotted the stolen truck Tuesday morning near West Manhattan Avenue got behind the vehicle and followed it as it turned down Amado Street, which is a dead-end, Johnson said. When the driver came to the end of the street, he put the truck in reverse, gunned the engine and jumped out, Johnson said. The truck slammed into the police car, causing extensive damage, Johnson said, though the officer was not injured. The driver escaped on foot. The officer later found a wallet in the truck with a driver's license in it. The officer identified the person in the license photo — Alex Sosoya — as the driver, Johnson said.

Sosoya is wanted by Rio Rancho police for absconding from probation. He had previously been convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and armed robbery, Johnson said. Santa Fe police issued an arrest warrant for him charging aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property, aggravated fleeing from police and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.

"We consider him a threat to the community," Johnson said.

Expensive ring reported missing

A 6.3-carat blue sapphire and diamond ring valued at $56,350 was reported as missing Tuesday from the Romancing the Stone jewelry store, 133 W. San Francisco Street.

The owner, Danuta Alyassin, told police the ring was apparently stolen between noon and 3 p.m. May 13. Police said they have no suspects.

Veterans honored on Flag Day

Two deceased veterans will be honored at Saturday's Flag Day ceremony in Santa Fe.

The family of the late U.S. Army Sergeant Enrique Valdez of Santa Fe will be presented with a special commemorative flag in recognition of his name finally being placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Valdez's name was the only name added to the wall at last month's Memorial Day ceremony.

The widow and daughter of former U.S. Marine Corporal Paul H. Clum will be presented with a Purple Heart Award and other medals that he never received from his service in World War II.

The event begins at 10 a.m. at the New Mexico Veterans Services Memorial Monument, located on the northwest corner of the Bataan Memorial Building at the intersection of Galisteo and Montezuma streets.

The Flag Day ceremony is sponsored by the Santa Fe Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars, the New Mexico National Guard and the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services.

Veteran Services Cabinet Secretary John M. Garcia will deliver the keynote address and present the flag and medals to the two families.

The public is invited to attend the free ceremony. Everyone is encouraged to bring an American flag, church flag, Scout or other service flag for a "pep rally" to honor the American flag and all those who've served their country.

Voter intimidation suit dismissed

ALBUQUERQUE — American Civil Liberties Union attorneys in Albuquerque said they are rethinking their pursuit of a lawsuit that alleges voter intimidation after a federal judge quietly dismissed a similar suit.

U.S. District Judge William Johnson dismissed a lawsuit April 30 that complained of voter intimidation, writing that the plaintiffs failed to establish imminent harm, and their claim that they were prevented from voting is moot since the election is over. That suit, filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund before the 2008 election, alleged Albuquerque attorney Pat Rogers and private investigator Al Romero had intimidated two newly registered Hispanic voters by publicizing their identities ahead of Election Day.

Nina Perales, an attorney for MALDEF, said the court failed to address whether the plaintiffs' actions were illegal, but even so the case sent the message that voter intimidation will not be tolerated.

ACLU staff attorney George Bach said Wednesday that the organization's attorneys would make a decision within weeks on whether Johnson's opinion would have a bearing on their case.

County Dems host judges forum

The public is welcome to meet and ask questions of new state district and appellate judges at the Santa Fe County Democratic Party meeting June 17.

At about 7:15 p.m., after the regular party meeting, there will be a forum with newly appointed judges Tim Garcia, Linda Vanzi and Robert Robles of the New Mexico Court of Appeals and Judge Sheri Raphaelson of the First Judicial District.

A news release said the meeting will be held at the NEA building, 2007 Botulph Road.

Court upholds murder sentence

The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the sentence of James Tsu for the murder of his mother in San Juan County in March 2004.

Caroline Tsu was beaten, and then her throat was slit and her body mutilated, in her home near Aztec.

A state District Court found that James Tsu had committed first-degree murder and was incompetent to stand trial. He was committed to the custody of the Department of Health, to be held for life in a secure, locked facility.

Tsu appealed the sentence, but the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected his arguments.