New Mexico
New Mexico Supreme Court orders new trial for Portales daycare operators convicted of child abuse
PORTALES, New Mexico (KCBD) – The New Mexico Supreme Court reversed the reckless child abuse convictions of two former Portales daycare workers who left two children unattended in a hot car in July 2017. Sandi and Mary Taylor were found guilty of killing one toddler and severely injuring another and convicted in 2019.
Mother, Mary, and her daughter, Sandi, were each sentenced to 36 years in prison. The court has now ordered a new trial after a split decision on whether evidence presented “confused and misdirected” the jury on the defendants actions to have committed reckless child abuse.
“The problem with the jury instructions used at Defendants’ joint trial arises from confusion and misdirection due to the unfortunate use of an inappropriate conjunctive term in the complex, essential-elements instructions that set out the course of conduct the jury was required to find in order to return guilty verdicts,” the Court wrote in an opinion by Justice Michael E. Vigil.
The court’s majority found a new trial would not violate the Taylors’ constitution protections against double jeopardy and reversed their convictions.
The Taylors ran a licensed daycare out of their home and were trained on policies of the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). Reports state the Taylors had driven 12 children in their care to a local park in two SUVs. When they returned, ten of the children were taken inside but the appeal states Sandi and Mary Taylor “failed to remove victims from the SUV, and both remained buckled in their car seats.”
During the Taylors’ trial, in order to convict them of reckless child abuse, jurors had to find that the defendants “did not follow the proper rules and procedures mandated by CYFD.”
Based on those instructions, the court’s majority explained, “the jury was allowed to return guilty verdicts solely on one or more of defendants’ alleged CYFD violations.”
At new trial date has not yet been set.
To read the decision in State v. Taylor, No. S-1-SC-38818, please visit the New Mexico Compilation Commission’s website using the following link:
https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsc/en/item/522417/index.do
Copyright 2024 KCBD. All rights reserved.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Postal Service is commemorating the centennial anniversary of Route 66 with a set of eight stamps.
The stamps feature eight different photographs from each state that Route 66 runs through. For New Mexico, a photo shows a old Grants Cafe sign.
Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and stamp pane using existing photographs by David J. Schwartz.
The stamps will make their debut at the National Postal Forum, also known as the NPF, at the Phoenix Convention Center on May 5. The event will be free and open to the public.
Route 66 was established on Nov. 11, 1926. It originally stretched about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Dubbed “The Mother Road” by author John Steinbeck, Route 66 became a national symbol of freedom and adventure.
News of the stamps is being shared online with the hashtag #Route66Stamps.
Lowrider stamps
In another nod to local car culture, the USPS will begin issuing its Lowrider Forever stamps in sheets of 15 beginning Friday.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Tanya Tucker will perform at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, officials announced Tuesday.
Tucker will take to the stage Friday, Sept. 18, after the Chevron PRCA rodeo. The Grammy Award-winning icon has racked up 10 No. 1 country hits since her first hit, “Delta Dawn,” at age 13.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the legendary Tanya Tucker to the New Mexico State Fair,” said Dan Mourning, general manager of the New Mexico State Fair. “Tanya is one of the greatest icons in country music history and is the perfect fit for the Fair.”
Tucker has 23 Top-40 albums and 56 Top 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has won two Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, three CMT Awards and two Grammys for Best Country Album and Best Country Song.
Tickets are set to go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.
Here is the full 2026 New Mexico State Fair rodeo-concert lineup:
Friday, Sept. 11
Turnpike Troubadours with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Saturday, Sept. 12
Ian Munsick with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Chevron PRCA Standalone Rodeo
Thursday, Sept. 17
Everclear with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
Friday, Sept. 18
Tanya Tucker with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
Saturday, Sept. 19
The Warning with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
Sunday, Sept. 20
Chevron PRCA Rodeo – Matinee
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