SAVE THE DATE: DECEMBER 1, 2026 TAKING ON THE FENTANYL CRISIS THAT IS KILLING NEW MEXICANS Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman will host an all-day public forum bringing together first responders, care providers, justice advocates, and others on the front lines of the fentanyl crisis. THE FENTANYL CRISIS IN BERNALILLO COUNTY: WHAT’S WORKING, WHAT ISN’T, AND WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER? The goal: share experiences, confront challenges, and identify real solutions to protect our communities and save lives. “The fentanyl crisis is destroying lives and killing New Mexicans. We have to do something. By bringing together the people on the front lines, we can work together to find solutions and make a difference,” said DA Sam Bregman. 📍 WHERE: Albuquerque Convention Center 🕘 WHEN: December 1, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND. More information to come.

CONVICTED — MAN GUILTY OF KIDNAPPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING GIRL DURING THANKSGIVING GATHERING A jury has convicted Ismael Martinez of First-Degree Kidnapping, Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor, and Battery for crimes committed on Thanksgiving Day 2024. Martinez knew the victim’s family and was at her home for the holiday. During the gathering, he took the 13-year-old girl to a convenience store and sexually assaulted her during the trip. Martinez faces up to 18 years in prison. Sentencing will take place at a later date. Rebekah Reyes and Julia Oliver prosecuted this case.

🎃 MAKING HALLOWEEN SAFE AND FUN FOR THE KIDDOS! 👻 Employees of the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office collected Halloween costumes and donated them to SAFE House (Shelter and Family Empowerment) to help dozens of children enjoy a safe and happy Halloween. ❤️ A special THANK YOU to our Victim Advocates for organizing the donation drive and helping make a difference in the lives of local families. That’s what community is all about! 🎃🧡

WELCOME TO THE TEAM! Today, we welcomed four new colleagues to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office! Our newest team members include attorneys, legal assistants and victim advocates. For various reasons, we do not include staff names in our social media posts, but we’re excited to have them on board!

HONORING THE FALLEN Today, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman joined community leaders and supporters at a 100 Club luncheon honoring the brave law enforcement officers and firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The 100 Club of New Mexico provides financial and other assistance to the families of sworn law enforcement officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty. We are grateful for those who put their lives on the line to protect our communities — and we will never forget those who gave everything in service to others

MAN WHO STRUCK INNOCENT BYSTANDER DURING ROAD RAGE INCIDENT, LEAVING HER PARALYZED, CONVICTED Today, a jury convicted Austin Kevin Jones of Great Bodily Injury by Vehicle by Reckless Driving. BACKGROUND: The crime happened in September 2024 at Girard Boulevard and Gibson Boulevard. Two muscle cars were drag racing near Jones as they traveled down Girard. Jones became angry and attempted to catch up to them. In doing so, Jones struck an innocent bystander who was driving another vehicle. The victim was just 19 years old. She suffered catastrophic injuries that left her paralyzed. The case was prosecuted by Guin Ice and Carmen Gutierrez. District Attorney Sam Bregman: “This young woman was simply driving her car when someone else’s reckless actions changed her life forever. There is nothing more important than holding people accountable when their dangerous choices cause this kind of devastating harm. I am grateful to Guin Ice and Carmen Gutierrez for their hard work in securing this conviction, and we will continue to fight for victims and pursue justice.”

DRUG TRAFFICKER CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR KIDNAPPING, TORTURING, THEN SETTING REMAINS ON FIRE -- VIDEO: This is lapel-camera footage from a police officer who discovered the defendants trying to burn evidence outside the shed where the crime happened. The video is not graphic. Last week, a jury convicted Virginia Nicasio of first-degree murder for the 2024 beating death of Antonio Taylor in Northwest Albuquerque. Nicasio, a drug trafficker, was angry at Taylor for stealing a Bose speaker and other items from her home. She wanted to make an example of him and ordered Preston Ball to take Taylor to a shed behind her duplex, where he was beaten and tortured. Taylor’s charred remains were later found inside a stolen vehicle on Fourth Street. This was a brutal and calculated killing. A jury has now held Virginia Nicasio accountable for first-degree murder.

MAN WHO SEXUALLY ABUSED 11-YEAR-OLD BOY SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON Today, a judge sentenced Jesse Lopez to 22 years in the New Mexico Corrections Department for sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy. In 2024, Lopez groomed the child using child sexual abuse material before sexually abusing him at least twice. The child bravely disclosed the abuse to another adult, who contacted Albuquerque Police. During the investigation, police discovered violent child sexual abuse material on Lopez’s electronic devices. Lopez later confessed to sexually abusing the boy. Police did not discover a video of the abuse of the 11-year-old. In April, Lopez pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor and one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children by Manufacturing. The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office will continue to fight for justice for victims of sexual abuse and hold accountable those who prey on children.

🐾🎈 Hi everyone! Woodstock and Rosie here! 🎈🐾 We’re the support pups for the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, and we’re excited to invite you to come see us at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! 📍 Find us at the Community Booth at the north end of the park. Stop by to meet us, learn more about the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, and take in the breathtaking sight of hundreds of beautiful balloons filling the New Mexico sky! 🎈 We’ll be here, ready to say hi, make new friends! 🐶❤️ Come see us — we can’t wait to meet you!

We stand with survivors, support victims, and remain committed to holding offenders accountable. You are not alone. We see you. We hear you.

JURY CONVICTS WOMAN OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR TORTURE AND BEATING OF ALBUQUERQUE MAN Today, a jury convicted Virginia Nicasio of First-Degree murder in the brutal killing of Antonio Taylor In 2024. Nicasio was involved in a drug operation and believed Taylor had stolen something from her. She then convinced Preston Ball to kidnap, torture and beat Taylor. Ball previously pleaded guilty for his role in the crime. Nicasio faces a minimum of 30 years in the New Mexico Corrections Department. The case was prosecuted by Christine Jablonsky and Collin Brennan. District Attorney Sam Bregman: “Our prosecutors are relentless and never give up, especially in a brutal case like this one. We remain committed to pursuing justice for victims and holding those responsible for violent crimes accountable.”

COUPLE WHO SEVERELY BEAT CHILD SENTENCED Yesterday, a judge sentenced Chance Martinez to 20 years and Felicia Martinez to 12 years in the New Mexico Corrections Department. Between November 2024 and February 2025, Chance and Felicia Martinez severely abused a 4-year-old child. Investigators learned that the victim was covered in bruises and had suffered a broken rib, strangulation and whip marks, as well as abrasions and scars from head to toe. In March, Felicia Martinez pleaded guilty to two counts of Abandonment of a Child Resulting in Great Bodily Harm (Child Under 13) and two counts of Child Abuse (Recklessly Caused). In April, Chance Martinez pleaded guilty to three counts of Abandonment of a Child Resulting in Great Bodily Harm (Child Under 13).

🚨 JURY CONVICTS MAN OF CHILD SOLICITATION BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE This afternoon, a jury convicted Jose Rodriguez Hernandez of child solicitation by electronic device following the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. In 2024, the victim’s mother discovered multiple inappropriate text messages and other electronic communications from Rodriguez Hernandez to the victim. The mother reported the messages to law enforcement and turned them over to police. Following an investigation, Rodriguez was charged. The case was prosecuted by Ryleigh Johnson and Joseph Stevens of the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman praised the work of the office’s Special Victims Unit. “We are incredibly proud of our Special Victims Unit, who never gives up,” said District Attorney Sam Bregman. “Their dedication to protecting children and pursuing justice makes a difference in the lives of victims and their families.”

👏 Shoutout to our Organized Retail Crime Special Agent! This week, leaders of the New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association recognized one of our special agents for outstanding investigative work, leadership, professionalism, and commitment to fighting organized retail crime. Working closely with the Albuquerque Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit, our agent has helped drive multiple arrests and convictions of people harming our community. New Mexico’s 2023 organized retail crime law is strengthening prosecutions and giving us additional tools to hold offenders accountable. These results are a team effort! From our special agents and prosecutors to our dedicated paralegals, it takes an entire team to secure convictions. For security reasons, we are not identifying our agent. Thank you to everyone who plays a role in this important work! 💪

FIGHTING SHOPLIFTING. HOLDING ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME ACCOUNTABLE. Today, District Attorney Sam Bregman and Deputy District Attorney Steve Diamond were guest speakers at the New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association Conference in Albuquerque, highlighting how New Mexico’s 2023 law is strengthening retail crime prosecutions. Too often, organized retail crime leaders exploit vulnerable people to do the dirty work while they reap the profits. Our prosecutors now have more tools to go after those behind these operations. Additionally, the District Attorney's office has been proactive by assigning attorneys to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases that used to only be handled by law enforcement officers. Through the changes in the law and District Attorney Bregman's aggressive approach, since 2023, our General Crimes and Metro teams have secured 1,078 shoplifting convictions.

Bernalillo County DA launches dashboard tracking judges’ pretrial detention decisions krqe.com/news/crime/bernalil…

CONVICTED — JURY CONVICTS MAN OF RAPING CHILD MULTIPLE TIMES Today, a Jury convicted Shane Michael Drapeaux of 5 counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a minor. The crimes happened between October 2020 and October 2022. Drapeaux forced the child, who was between 13 and 14 years old at the time, to engage in sexual intercourse multiple times. Savannah Brandenburg-Koch and Joe Stevens of our Special Victims Unit prosecuted this case. Drapeaux faces up to 75 years in prison. “Today’s guilty verdict is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Special Victims Unit. These prosecutors take on some of the most difficult and heartbreaking cases we see, and they never lose sight of the people behind those cases—the victims. They work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable and pursue justice for those who have been hurt. I’m proud of this team and the commitment they show every single day to seeking justice and standing up for victims.” — Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and visited with us at the New Mexico State Fair this week! 🎡 We love hearing from our community, meeting new people, and having the opportunity to talk about the work we do every day at the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. And a special shoutout to our law enforcement officers and military members! 🇺🇸 Thank you for your service and for all you do for our communities and our country.