Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 9, 2006 12:16:20 GMT -5
08.09.2006 - GRANTS, N.M. - A former Cibola County deputy accused of shaking down immigrants has been sentenced to nine years for robbery and extortion.
State District Judge Camille Martinez-Olguin sentenced officer Todd Murphy on July 28 to nine years in prison, then suspended all but four years. She placed him on five years' supervised probation once the prison term ends.
Murphy entered an Alford plea earlier this year to two counts each of robbery and extortion, according to the district court clerk's office in Cibola County. Under such a plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges he could be convicted.
He had been accused of stopping immigrants and taking money from them last year.
Murphy, of New Laguna, resigned from the county sheriff's office on June 1, 2005, after he was arraigned on criminal charges involving a traffic stop of a Mexican citizen.
Murphy was accused of stopping Manuel Mendoza on May 28, 2005, and taking $3,200 from him.
After Murphy was sentenced, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico sued him on behalf of a Guatamalan man Murphy had stopped two days earlier.
The ACLU alleged Murphy handcuffed Julian Morales Perez, illegally searched the vehicle in which he was a passenger and confiscated $3,700 from him and the driver. Morales was not arrested.
The ACLU alleged Murphy repeatedly told Morales, who has lived in the United States since 1990, that his work permit was no good and he would be deported.
The 13-page lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
www.freenewmexican.com/news/47591.html
State District Judge Camille Martinez-Olguin sentenced officer Todd Murphy on July 28 to nine years in prison, then suspended all but four years. She placed him on five years' supervised probation once the prison term ends.
Murphy entered an Alford plea earlier this year to two counts each of robbery and extortion, according to the district court clerk's office in Cibola County. Under such a plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges he could be convicted.
He had been accused of stopping immigrants and taking money from them last year.
Murphy, of New Laguna, resigned from the county sheriff's office on June 1, 2005, after he was arraigned on criminal charges involving a traffic stop of a Mexican citizen.
Murphy was accused of stopping Manuel Mendoza on May 28, 2005, and taking $3,200 from him.
After Murphy was sentenced, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico sued him on behalf of a Guatamalan man Murphy had stopped two days earlier.
The ACLU alleged Murphy handcuffed Julian Morales Perez, illegally searched the vehicle in which he was a passenger and confiscated $3,700 from him and the driver. Morales was not arrested.
The ACLU alleged Murphy repeatedly told Morales, who has lived in the United States since 1990, that his work permit was no good and he would be deported.
The 13-page lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
www.freenewmexican.com/news/47591.html