State Sen. Richard C. Martinez
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Santa Fe Magistrate Judge David Segura has been appointed to handle the aggravated driving under the influence and reckless driving charges filed against Sen. Richard C. Martinez in Espanola Magistrate Court. Judges Joseph Madrid, Alexandra Naranjo and Pat Casados have all recused themselves from the case.
Martinez, has served District 5, which includes Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe Counties, since 2001. He is a retired Magistrate Court judge.
Court documents filed by Espanola Police Ofc. Dustin Chavez indicate that he was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident with injuries at Paseo de Onate and Fairview Lane. Chavez found two vehicles in the northbound lane, one with moderate damage to the rear and the other with heavy damage to the front.
Chavez said he could smell the odor of alcohol emitting from the interior of Martinez’s vehicle and that Martinez had bloodshot, watery eyes. Chavez’s report says Martinez first told him he had one or two beers and was traveling “from town”. After paramedics placed him in the back of an ambulance, he admitted to having two or three beers and said he was coming from a meeting in Santa Fe. The report indicates that he recanted his statement and said he actually drank three glasses of wine. Chavez noted that Martinez was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was transported from the scene by ambulance.
The driver of the vehicle struck by Martinez said he was stopped at a red light when he heard the sound of tires screeching and saw a flash of light when the impact occurred.
When Chavez entered the room at the hospital, he told Martinez he was being placed under arrest for driving under the influence and read him his implied consent. The report states that Chavez again asked Martinez if he would be willing to provide a sample of his breath but he declined.
Judge Madrid released Martinez on his own recognizance Saturday on condition that he not possess or consume alcohol or enter a liquor establishment. No dates have been set for future court appearances in the case.