Ninth Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb announced that on May 12, 2017, Bernardo Baca, age 42, of Clovis, was found guilty by a Curry County jury of Trafficking Controlled Substances, a second degree felony; Distribution of Marijuana, a fourth degree felony; Tampering with Evidence, a fourth degree felony; and Resisting Arrest, a misdemeanor. The jury deliberated approximately one hour Friday afternoon after hearing testimony from law enforcement and the New Mexico Crime Lab analyst.
On May 3, 2016, a package containing methamphetamine and marijuana was located behind a dumpster in an alley on Mitchell Street. The drugs were originally placed by Baca in a walkway between the jail annex and main building, intended for Baca’s incarcerated girlfriend to pick up when she went outside for recreation time. An informant led police to the drugs and Baca was later arrested. The State played jail phone calls between Baca and the girlfriend at the trial, which showed they were scheming to get the drugs into the jail.
The Honorable Matthew Chandler presided over the trial and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ralph prosecuted the case for the State of New Mexico. Criminal defense attorney Jonathan C. Miller of Albuquerque represented the defendant.
Judge Chandler postponed sentencing until Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. Baca faces up to 25 years in prison with his sentence being enhanced due to previous felony convictions.
Baca is currently in the New Mexico Department of Corrections serving time for two prior convictions from 2016 for drug possession.
For more information, contact the District Attorney’s Office at 575-769-2246.
(News release from the New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office)
