Latest news with #Perea
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunland Park considers creating its own water utility following CRRUA split
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Sunland Park city officials are now laying out their plans to move forward following the termination of the joint powers agreement that established the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA). CRRUA provides water and wastewater services to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa. Doña Ana County cuts ties with CRRUA after years of water quality issues During a press conference on Wednesday, May 28, city leaders announced they are preparing a resolution that would allow Sunland Park to create its own water and wastewater department. This comes after Doña Ana County voted to end its agreement with CRRUA, citing years of resident complaints about water quality. Doña Ana County takes steps to terminate Camino Real Regional Utility Authority 'Our staff is going to be presenting a resolution that is requesting support from the city council to establish our own water and wastewater department to make sure that we are prepared in case of the decision that the county wants to separate the assets, and we have to create our own water wastewater service,' Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea said. In addition to the possible creation of a new department, the city plans to request $1.2 million from municipal funds to address infrastructure problems, including the ongoing issue of discolored water that many residents have reported over the years. 'That will be necessary to address the tanks, the Anapra tank, the Middle Vista tank, and the Tierra Madre tank, all located within the City of Sunland Park, and hopefully reduce the number of incidents of discolored water within the city,' Perea said. The resolutions will be presented to the city council in the coming weeks, officials said. The transition away from CRRUA could take up to four years, with the agency continuing day-to-day operations during that time, according to city officials. In the meantime, Doña Ana County and the City of Sunland Park have activated a dedicated phone line and online form for CRRUA customers to report water-related issues or concerns. Assistance is available in both English and Spanish by calling (575) 525-5589. Doña Ana County activates support line for CRRUA customers For more information, or to access the support form, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Deshawndre Washington's trial delayed as NM Supreme Court grants stay
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Former New Mexico State men's basketball player Deshawndre Washington's jury trial—that was scheduled to begin Monday, April 14—has been delayed for a third time. Washington faces trial for allegedly sexually assaulting teammates and student managers during New Mexico State men's basketball's 2022-23 season. He faces 15 charges and up to 45 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Friday, the Supreme Court of New Mexico granted an emergency stay in the trial of Washington. The New Mexico Supreme Court's ruling came a day after Albuquerque-based attorney Scott M. Davidson filed an emergency verified petition for writ of superintending control and emergency request for stay for Washington's trial. On the writ petition filed Thursday, it said Davidson is 'Counsel for Deshawndre Washington.' Third Judicial District Court judge Conrad Perea, who has been the judge for the trial, is listed as the respondent. The NM Supreme Court ordered that a response shall be timely if filed on or before April 15, 2025. 'An emergency writ of superintending control is needed to prevent the disastrous combined effect of [Perea's] disqualification of Mr. Washington's counsel of choice and [Perea's] refusal to continue the premature trial setting of April 14, 2025.' the writ petition read. In the writ petition filed Thursday, Davidson asked the New Mexico Supreme Court to order Perea to rescind the Mar. 10, 2025 order that disqualified 'Mr. Washington's counsel of choice, David Mestemaker, from representing him at trial.' Last month, Perea granted the State of New Mexico's motion to disqualify Mestemaker. Mestemaker spoke at a press conference on February 17, 2025 and according to Perea's order the court found that Mestemaker 'made statements during the press conference, which are more likely than not to have a prejudicial effect on a proceeding, particularly a proceeding involving a criminal matter that is triable by a jury and has the potential of resulting in incarceration.' Mestemaker assumed the role of lead counsel for Washington in December 2024. Mestemaker is licensed to practice law in Texas, but not in New Mexico. The disqualification of Mestemaker led to Michael Cain, Washington's local attorney, assuming the role of lead counsel. 'Mr. Cain is not prepared to go to trial as lead counsel on April 14, 2025.' the writ petition read. 'Since the removal of Mr. Mestemaker, Mr. Cain has not only been tasked with hurriedly preparing to be lead counsel on Mr. Washington's case…Mr. Cain has repeatedly informed [Perea] that he is not ready for trial.' the writ petition read. That led to Cain filing multiple motions for reconsideration of the order on motion for disqualification and to continue the trial. Perea denied Cain's motions. The writ petition filed by Davidson also asked the New Mexico Supreme Court to order [Perea] to rescind the March 27, 2025 order denying Mr. Washington's motion to continue the trial set for April 14, 2025. The writ petition also argued that the State of New Mexico 'amended Washington's indictment on January 29, 2025, changing the dates on eleven of the original thirteen charges, adding two new felonies, and added a new alleged victim.' 'Mr. Washington was arraigned on the new indictment February 17, 2025. Under LR3-303(M), as a Track 3 case, his trial must occur no later than May 27, 2026, barring an exception under Rule LR3-303 justifying a continuance beyond that date.' the writ petition read. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Deshawndre Washington's attorney seeks emergency continuance
Former New Mexico State men's basketball player Deshawndre Washington is still scheduled for trial later this month after 3rd Judicial District Judge Conrad Perea denied a recent continuance motion by Washington's attorney. Washington faces multiple felony sexual assault charges for allegedly assaulting former teammates and student managers during the 2022-2023 basketball season. The five-day jury trial is currently set to begin April 14, but Washington's attorney is looking to vacate that trial date by potentially filing an emergency petition for writ of superintending control in the New Mexico Supreme Court. The trial has been re-scheduled twice, most recently in January when Perea granted a continuance that both sides agreed to. But Perea denied a March 20, 2025 motion to continue filed by Washington's attorney, Michael Cain, who argued he could not provide his client with a proper defense due to exceptional circumstances - namely Perea's March 10, 2025 order that disqualified Washington's primary counsel. Cain responded on March 31, 2025 with an emergency motion to vacate the April 14 start date, pending the outcome of an emergency petition for writ of superintending control. According to court records, Washington's attorney is in the process of filing the writ, "to address the issues raised by the Court's order disqualifying lead defense counsel on the eve of trial and the improper sanctions imposed by the Court on both defense counsel, among other issues from the Court's order." Perea originally determined the trial would be scheduled for October 2024, or within 455 days of the Nov. 22, 2023 arraignment of Washington and Bradley, or a Track 3 schedule under rule LR3-303, which mandates a case management pilot program for the 3rd Judicial District. Perea rescheduled the trial for February 2025 in September 2024 due to the complexity of the case and the addition of 13 witnesses to the state's witness list on May 30, 2024. Due to "exceptional circumstances," according to the order, state law allows the court to extend the trial date by a maximum of 60 days for a track 3 case. "The Court finds that the exceptional circumstances claimed by Mr. Cain were not exceptional," Perea wrote in an order denying Cain's motion. In March 2025, Perea partially granted a motion by New Mexico Department of Justice prosecutor John Duran, which disqualified Houston based defense attorney David Mestemaker for making comments that "are more likely than not to have a prejudicial effect on a proceeding," during a Feb. 17, 2025 press conference, according to court records. Cain's motion asked for Mestemaker to be reinstated and the April 14, 2025 trial date be vacated to allow counsel to prepare for trial. "Disqualification of counsel Mestemaker was inappropriate as the allegations did not rise to the level sufficient for the Court to violate the defendant's Sixth Amendment rights to counsel of his choice," Cain's motion read. "Even if the Court reinstates Mr. Mestemaker to the trial team as lead counsel, so much time has now been lost litigating this issue that the Court will need to make a finding of extraordinary circumstances under LR3-303 and continue trial again to allow both attorneys sufficient time to prepare for trial." Cain joined the case as local counsel under Major Adams in June 2024. Cain attempted to withdraw as counsel in October 2024 after multiple efforts to contact Adams regarding the case were unsuccdessful, "making any furuther representation of the defendent impossible," according to court records. "The Court finds that Mr. Michael Cain is an experienced criminal attorney and has the knowledge and ability to mount an appropriate defense," Perea's order read. As of publication, the next hearing scheduled is an April 9 status hearing regarding special questionnaires for jury selection. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Emergency continuance sought in Deshawndre Washington trial
