New Mexico

Former New Mexico priest indicted on child sex abuse charges

Published

1 year ago

June 30, 2023

Former New Mexico priest indicted on child sex abuse charges

Balizan was serving as the pastor of Santa Maria de la Paz in Santa Fe when he was accused of sexually abusing a minor. The archdiocese said in a statement that it promptly reported the sexual abuse allegations to authorities upon being informed in 2022 and that he was immediately removed from his position as a pastor.

The statement said the archdiocese has a “zero tolerance” policy related to sexual abuse and “unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of its community members, especially the vulnerable.” The archdiocese said it has an ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and support for the survivors of abuse.

“Most Reverend John C. Wester, archbishop of Santa Fe, urges the faithful to keep all victims of clergy sexual abuse in their prayers,” the statement read. “The archdiocese remains fully committed to cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation.”

The archdiocese encouraged anyone who was sexually abused as a minor or knows about sexual abuse of a minor to report it to the civil authorities. If an abuser is a member of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe or a volunteer or employee, the archdiocese also asked that it be reported to the Archdiocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 505-831-8144 or aklimka@archdiosf.org.

The sexual abuse allegations were investigated by the Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. The FBI received assistance from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory.

“We have and will continue to do everything we possibly can to protect our children from predators who seek to do them harm by abusing their inherent positions of trust,” Raul Bujanda, FBI special agent in charge, said in a statement.

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New Mexico

New Mexico lacks EV charging stations in rural and tribal areas

Published

8 hours ago

December 21, 2024

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New Mexico lacks EV charging stations in rural and tribal areas

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New Mexico

NMDOJ issues report on NMSU hazing case

Published

16 hours ago

December 20, 2024

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico Department of Justice released a report on its investigation into alleged cases of sexual assault and hazing within the New Mexico State University men’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season.

The NMDOJ issued a report accusing the NMSU men’s basketball program of failing to protect student-athletes and having a “pervasive culture of misconduct,” leading to the cancellation of the season.

The report stems from an investigation into alleged hazing and sexual assault incidents within the NMSU men’s basketball program back then, which led to the cancellation of the season.

In April 2023, two players sued the school, players and coaches, accusing multiple players of sexually assaulting them multiple times over several months – and accusing the coaches of not stepping in. In November 2023, a grand jury indicted Deshawndre Washington, Kim Aiken Jr., and Doctor Bradley on criminal charges.

Bradley and Aiken each took a plea deal. Aiken agreed to testify against Washington as a part of his deal.

The NMDOJ blames the alleged assaults on an environment characterized by a toxic culture within the program. They allege people close to the team missed “opportunities to observe and intervene” and that student safety programs didn’t do enough “to deter or address this behavior.” They cited “lax oversight, inconsistent discipline, and inadequate preventative measures.”

“This report is intended to shine a light not only on the specific misconduct by members of NMSU’s basketball team but also the institutional deficiencies that allowed that misconduct to go unaddressed by leaders inside the university,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said. “While NMSU has made commendable progress since these incidents occurred, more must be done to ensure accountability and prevent future harm.”

The NMDOJ called on NMSU to:

Develop written guidelines for collaborations between athletics, institutional equity office and the dean
Institute recurring Title IX and anti-hazing training for all students and staff
Enforce “disciplinary measures for student-athletes based on the severity of misconduct”
Strengthen standards for recruiting practices and coach and player vetting
Ensure senior leadership “prioritizes and adequately funds” safety initiatives and programming
Establish a center “dedicated to sexual violence education, prevention, and victim advocacy”

The NMDOJ is calling on the New Mexico Legislature to pass anti-hazing legislation. According to them, New Mexico is one of six states that lacks this.

They also identified seven critical areas of concern:

Institutional governance and student engagement
Policies
Reporting mechanisms
Training
Athletics Department culture and recruiting practices
Resources for sexual assault victims
Interdepartmental coordination.

You can read the full NMDOJ report here.

Here is the letter the NMDOJ sent to NMSU:

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New Mexico

New Mexico chipmunk listed as ‘endangered’ in southeast region – Ruidoso News

Published

24 hours ago

December 20, 2024

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New Mexico chipmunk listed as ‘endangered’ in southeast region – Ruidoso News

A Penasco least chipmunk is pictured. Jim Stuart /New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Adrian HeddenCarlsbad Current-Argusachedden@currentargus.com A chipmunk the federal government believed could go extinct in southeast New Mexico was given the highest level of protection, while land…