Local news in brief Oct. 15

| The New Mexican and wire services

10/14/2008 - 10/15/08

Man charged in rape of teen

A 25-year-old Santa Fe man was arrested Monday and charged with raping a 14-year-old girl, Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano said Tuesday.

Jerome Mondragon admitted to the allegations when he was interviewed by detectives, though he initially said he didn't know the girl was 14, Solano said. He later admitted he knew her true age, Solano said, and was charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor.

The girl told investigators she'd gone to stay at a friend's house Sunday, and Mondragon, a friend of her friend's brother, arrived, Solano said. The girl said she'd already been drinking alcohol by the time Mondragon arrived with more alcohol, Solano said.

At some point, everyone at the home went to bed except Mondragon and the girl, Solano said. The girl said Mondragon digitally penetrated her, performed oral sex on her and made her touch him, Solano said. The girl said she didn't want to do it, but was scared to say no, the sheriff said. She later told her father, who called police, Solano said.

Saturday Obama rally clears hurdles

Rock for Barack, a get-out-and-vote event aimed at 18- to 30-year-old voters will be held from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Pub and Grill at the Santa Fe Brewing Co., 37 Fire Place, just off N.M. 14 south of Interstate 25.

D.J. Hurricane of the Beastie Boys and local bands Rubixzu and Sol Fire are among the performers booked for the show. Free shuttles will transport attendees to early-voting polls throughout the day.

A pre-show party featuring DJ Nu-Mark of the band Jurassic 5 is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Friday at the College of Santa Fe's student union building.

Rock for Barack was originally slated to be an outdoor event with more than a dozen performers, but cost and venue complications caused organizers to scale back the lineup. Acts that couldn't be accommodated at the Pub and Grill will perform during an after-party Saturday, also at the College of Santa Fe SUB.

Tickets for the pre-show are $10. Tickets for Saturday's main event, which includes admission to the after-party, are $10 for those ages 18 to 30 and $15 for everyone else. For more information, call 820-1139 or 438-3012 or visit www.rockforbarack2008.com.

Newspaper offers employee buyouts

The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper offered voluntary buyouts to some employees Tuesday in an effort to further reduce the size of its work force.

Publisher Robin Martin said the goal is to reduce companywide employment by about 10 people.

"Management is committed to taking every step possible to ensure that The New Mexican is carefully steered through these troubled times so that the business is well positioned for an economic recovery," Martin told employees in a letter.

Earlier this year, Martin cited a steep decline in advertising revenue, especially in real-estate and automobile sales — as well as rising newsprint costs — for the elimination of some 18 positions, including some layoffs.

Martin hopes further layoffs can be avoided. She said the newspaper has expanded its online news coverage, recently signed a printing contract for The New York Times and is pursuing more commercial printing.

"These actions have been taken with a view on the future and to generate revenue for the business and to fulfill our mission of community journalism," Martin told employees.

Luján releases fundraising figures

Ben Ray Luján, the Democratic nominee for Congress in New Mexico's 3rd District, has raised more than $380,000 for his campaign between July and the end of September, according to a Tuesday news release from his campaign.

That would bring the total amount Luján has raised to nearly $1.4 million since he began his campaign for Congress.

Luján is running against Republican Dan East and Independent Carol Miller, who did not release their fundraising totals Tuesday. The deadline for filing the quarterly reports with the Federal Election Commission is today.

Suazo named to state Indian Affairs

Gov. Bill Richardson has appointed the man who has been in charge of the state Indian tourism program to be deputy secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.

Travis Suazo will take the new job Saturday.

"During Travis' tenure at the Tourism Department, he has worked to promote tribal tourism and increase economic development in our Indian communities," Richardson said in a news release. "I am confident he will be an asset to the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department."

Suazo is from the pueblos of Laguna, Acoma and Taos. His work background is in marketing, advertising and tourism. He is a lifelong resident of Albuquerque.

Richardson appointed Suazo in March 2005 to manage the Indian Tourism Program within the Tourism Department. Shortly thereafter, he began overseeing four other programs in the department.

Couple sues over debris in ducts

A Santa Fe couple is suing a local home builder for allegedly leaving construction debris in the air ducts of their new home.

Victor and Viola Montaño bought a house at 16 Penny Lane in the Piñon Hills neighborhood, west of N.M. 599, for just over $1 million, according to a complaint filed in state District Court last week.

Soon after moving in this summer, the complaint said, they experienced breathing problems, itchy skin and watery eyes, then noticed a strong, foul odor in the entertainment and exercise room.

According to the complaint, a professional evaluation found construction dust, fiberglass, silica sandblasting sand and cedar sawdust in the air ducts of the house because of several construction flaws.

Because silica sand is a proven carcinogen, the complaint says, the Montaños were forced to move out and leave most of their belongings behind. They are seeking unspecified damages from Hacienda de Nuevo Mexico, Danny Marimon and Arnoldo Carrillo. None of the defendants was available for comment Tuesday.

Developer sued over noise in condo

An owner of one of the Zocolo condominiums is suing over sounds coming from the condo above hers.

Della Duran, who purchased one of 320 units in the north-side complex in 2002, claims the developer, Foothills Estates LLC, refused to do remedial construction work recommended by a consultant to reduce the noises.

According to a complaint filed last week in state District Court by lawyer Joseph Manges, Duran and Don Tishman, a partner in Foothills Estates, failed to reach an agreement over which rooms in Duran's unit meet the state Construction Industries Licensing Act and state residential building codes.

A man who answered the phone at the Tishman Group said he knew nothing about the case, and Tishman now lives in California.

Volunteer bell ringers needed

The Salvation Army needs volunteer bell ringers for its Christmas kettle program more than ever because of the nationwide financial crisis.

"I've been seeking volunteers every year," said Jerry Gattis, pastor/administrator for the Santa Fe chapter. "We usually end up having to pay a few, but with the economy the way it is — and we have to pay $9.50 an hour — we're really hoping the community will help us out this year."

Gattis said he could use up to 400 people to solicit donations for the Salvation Army at 14 locations around Santa Fe, beginning Nov. 21. To volunteer, call Gattis at 988-8054.

Chimney fire a lesson for homeowners

A chimney fire spread to the walls of a home on Elena Street on Tuesday afternoon, according to city firefighters.

The incident should serve as reminder for others who are thinking about stoking up the fireplace as chilly weather descends, said Santa Fe Fire Capt. Linda Loleic.

"With these older chimneys, sometimes they corrode and crack, and the heat can go into the timbers, causing them to superheat and ignite," she said. "Even if you do have your chimney cleaned, you might want to have an inspector inspect that as well. After a certain amount of time, it gets dangerous for the adjoining wall."

The homeowner called the fire department after she saw smoke coming from the wall. No one was injured in the fire, but it occupied firefighters for about three hours, and they discovered several charred structural timbers, Loleic said.

Taos girls' basketball coach suspended

Robert F. Trujillo, Taos High School girls' basketball coach, was suspended from his duties Saturday in the Taos school system after allegations he may have sent a graphic sex video to a student, The Taos News has reported.

Peter Olson of the New Mexico State Police said Tuesday that a Taos student's mother contacted authorities about the video Saturday.

"They're interviewing her today," Olson said Tuesday. "As far as we know, the mother is from Rio Rancho and her daughter lives in Taos."

The student received a video on her cell phone portraying a man having sex with an animal, police said. The video appeared to be taken from the Internet. When authorities called the origin number, the person who picked up identified himself as Trujillo, police said.

Ski areas battle for first opening

KEYSTONE, Colo. — Two Colorado ski resorts will open for the season today.

Arapahoe Basin announced Monday that it would open with one lift running at 9 a.m. today.

On Tuesday, Loveland Ski Area said it would start the season today, too — at 8:30 a.m.

The resorts have since agreed that both will open at 8:30 a.m. to share the title of being the first in the nation to open. A-Basin was the first to open the last two seasons.

Both resorts say they will have an 18-inch base.

Body found near Carlsbad railroad

CARLSBAD — The body of a teenage boy has been discovered near railroad tracks in Carlsbad, and a police spokesman says officers are investigating.

Capt. Danny Fierro says the teen's name and cause of death have not been released.

The body was found Sunday evening when officers were sent to the area after a report of an unidentified man lying on the ground.

Fierro says several people have been interviewed and evidence was collected at the scene.