The following is a press release from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney:
Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Andrea Reeb, announced that on March 6, 2018, Amanda Sotelo was sentenced to five-and-one-half years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections for Aggravated Battery and Felony DWI and additional two-and-one-half years of supervised probation for misdemeanor charges. Ms. Sotelo was found guilty on all counts by a jury on February 20, 2018.
On July 29, 2015, Ms. Sotelo ran over a woman who was looking for her dog while visiting family in Texico. Later that day, Ms. Sotelo engaged officers in a slow-speed car chase through the streets of Texico. Once stopped, she was found to be under the influence of alcohol, refused testing, and refused to give officers her name. The victim did not know the defendant. During trial, the victim testified that Ms. Sotelo smirked at her when she was on the hood of her car, holding on for her life. Ms. Sotelo had three previous DWI convictions and is currently pending trial for another DWI case.
The Honorable Fred Van Soelen presided over the case. Citing the violent nature of the facts and Ms. Sotelo’s lack of motive for purposely hitting the victim, Judge Van Soelen ruled that the Aggravated Battery was unquestionably a Serious Violent Offense. Such an offense requires the defendant to serve a minimum of 85% of the sentence in prison.
The case was prosecuted by Arwen Gaddis, Assistant District Attorney. Ms. Sotelo was represented by criminal defense attorney Sandra Gallagher.
(Press release from Ninth Judicial District Attorney)
