Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 120, No. 104 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
April 30, 2011
SATURDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Jury acquits Gomez of 1st-degree murder JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
James Gomez was released from custody, Friday, after the jury found him not guilty on charges of first-degree murder for the killing of 16-year -old Zachary Perez. Gomez took the stand in his own defense, Thursday, and admitted to stabbing Zachary Perez on the night
of Feb. 12, 2010. “I stabbed him,” he said. “I don’t know how many times.” Autopsy results revealed that Perez, whose body was found in the vacant lot between Mulberry Avenue and Fifth Street, was stabbed 22 times. Gomez had been drinking with several companions most of the night. The group was drinking at a residence on the 600 block
“Of course, we are disappointed, but we respect the verdict of the jury.” — District Attorney Janetta Hicks
of East Sixth Street when Perez stabbed Gomez and fled. Gomez and co-defendant Jesus Carranza drove around after the incident,
stopping near the vacant lot on Mulberry. The two exited the vehicle. Gomez said that he pulled his knife from his pocket. “I seen a figure running
LONDON (AP) — With not one but two kisses and tender whispered words, Prince William and Kate Middleton smiled and blushed Friday as they started their life as future king and queen. A day of seamless pageantry inspired hopes that this royal couple might live happily ever after. - PAGE A6
WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Walkers begin their trek along the Spring River Trail Friday morning, kicking off the Park the Pounds program sponsored by Roswell Parks & Recreation Department.
Parks and Rec begins Park the Pounds MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
City officials and Roswell citizens active in the community met under the sun at Cahoon Park Friday, to kick off the Park the Pounds program.
2 NMMI PLAYERS EARN STATE BIDS
One of the hardest things to do as a tennis player is to get up for a match against a good friend, just ask the Williams sisters. It can be difficult to get the competitive juices flowing when an athlete knows that if they win, their friend will be distraught. That was the situation for NMMI’s Jose Gonzalez and Frederico Sanchez at the District 3-1A/2A/3A Individual Championships on Friday. The two Colts played each other in the finals of the singles draw ...
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
- PAGE B1 • David “Joe” Edwards • Mickie Finlay • Gregory Alan Scott - PAGE A6
See GOMEZ, Page A3
EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
TOP 5
INSIDE
The jury deliberated for about four hours after Judge Steven L. Bell gave them instructions about the potential verdicts based on the charges of first-
Cops bust man for child porn
KISS HER AGAIN, WILLS
• Gomez: I stabbed him • Hundreds protest against potential lizard listing • Fire truck rolls enroute to grass fire • Rocket boys claim district, girls fall • Willis cards 68 to lead Goddard
towards me — it was Zachary — with a knife in his hands .... Either I was gonna die or it was gonna be him.”
The new event focuses on promoting fitness in Roswell with attention to affordable and available city events and activities, said parks and recreation officials. Park the Pounds commenced with a handful of the dozen “celebrity team” that will
lead the charge this summer in burning extra calories. “Today, eleven of my friends and I start a new chapter in our lives,” said Councilor Jason See PARK, Page A3
The Chaves County Inter net Crimes Against Children task force caught its third or fourth sexual predator in about eight months this week, local law enforcement officials say. A Dexter man was arrested Wednesday in Clovis by the Curry County Sherif f’s Of fice on 101 counts of sexual exploitation of children for the possession of child pornography and 70 counts of sexual exploitation of children for manufacturing of child pornography, according to the Curry County Undersheriff Wesley Waller and Chaves County Sheriff Rob Coon. “We could probably have gotten him for another 300 to 400 counts,” Coon said. The initial investigation against Norman Allen, 49, began with a tip from a detective with the Missouri ICAC task force, according to the affidavit for criminal complaint filed at Chaves County Magistrate See PORN, Page A3
State cites RISD for Appeals Court judges visit GHS minor compliance issue in Ed Dept audit The Roswell Independent School District was one of 13 districts cited for minor compliance issues not consistent with state or federal laws in a recent audit conducted by the New Mexico Public Education Department, department officials say. RISD Superintendent Mike Gottlieb says the citation was a result of two forms for Individual Education Programs, commonly called IEPs, being submitted to the department one day late. “That was it,” Gottlieb said. Gottlieb added he was pleased with the initial audit findings overall. NMPED said in a press release on Wednesday that
minor compliance issues can include “unintentional technical errors.” The Department will follow up with RISD in the next two weeks with guidelines on how to resolve any issues in a timely manner. NMPED announced its initial audit findings for 34 school districts Wednesday. In addition to the 13 cited for minor compliance issues, eight districts were cleared of any wrongdoing, four were cited for major compliance issues and nine were selected for additional audit measures based on initial findings, according to the news release. NMPED announced that it would audit 34 of the See RISD, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
The Court of Appeals judges visited Goddard High School Friday to participate in 2011 Law Day events at the campus. From left: The Honorable Tim Garcia, The Honorable Jonathan Sutin, Chief Judge Celia Foy Castillo, The Honorable Linda Vanzi and The Honorable Michael Vigil.
EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Judges from the New Mexico Court of Appeals swooped down from
Santa Fe for Law Day in Roswell and converted the library of Goddard High School into a courtroom Friday afternoon to give seniors a taste of what it
is like to sit on an appellate bench. The AP gover nment students sat up straight and turned off their cell phones as a three-judge panel dressed in traditional full, black robes held an actual court proceeding in a real civil lawsuit involving a woman who appealed a Las Cruces District Court decision. “You are now officially in a courtroom of this court, just as though you were sitting in our courtroom in Santa Fe,” Judge Timothy Garcia told students before hearing oral arguments from attorneys, Phillip Cheves, of Butt Thornton & Baehr PC, and Jennie Deden Behles, of Behles Law Firm in Albuquerque.
See LAW DAY, Page A3
Debbie Davis becomes worthy grand matron of New Mexico OES MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
HIGH ...86˚ LOW ....50˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............A7 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
Debbie Davis
Like most civic organizations, its members are usually comprised of individuals who have a sense of duty and service to the community. Debbie Davis is no exception to the rule, in fact, she has been a member of an organization that likely makes the list of one of New Mexico’s oldest organizations, since she was a teenager. This year, Davis became worthy grand matron, a position that rotates among members annually, but gives her the distinct privilege to be the presiding officer of the Order of the Eastern Star’s Grand Jurisdiction of New Mexico. “I devote a lot of time to it,” she said, referring to the organization and adding that her new position means she’s tasked with “visiting each one of the chapters in the
state.” Davis explained that the Order of the Eastern Star’s first New Mexico chapter was charted in 1888 in Raton. Roswell was the 10th chapter and was chartered in New Mexi-
Eastern Star, others include her husband, grandfather and two uncles. “I started out as a Rainbow Girl, which is an organization sponsored by the Order of the Eastern Star for
co in 1902, a full decade before New Mexico joined the Union. There are 33 New Mexico chapters, she said. The OES is comprised of men and women and teaches lessons of fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love, according to a group description. Davis is one of a handful of family members who call themselves members of the Order of the
teenage girls,” she said. Being this year’s Worthy Grand Matron, Davis is also charged with leading one of this year’s charity themes, a cornerstone of the order. “That’s the main focus, charity work,” she said. “I feel like we’re doing some good and making a difSee SPOTLIGHT, Page A3