BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com 

Petty misdemeanor charges filed November 16 in Los Alamos Magistrate Court against Los Alamos County Sheriff and former Deputy Police Chief Jason Wardlow-Herrera, former Los Alamos Public Schools former Human Resources Director and former LAHS Head Girls Volleyball Coach Joseph Palmer, Asst. Head Coach Natalie Passalacqua and Asst. Coach Bianca Monet Enriquez are slowly making their way through Los Alamos Magistrate Court. 

All four are charged with possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages August 18 on the Los Alamos High School grounds.

Asst. District Attorney David McElroy filed a statement of joinder December 12 for all four cases. Joinder is usually sought if the charges are so closely connected in respect to time, place and occasion that it would be difficult to separate proof of one charge from proof of others.

Los Alamos Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor has been excused or recused herself in all four cases. Status hearings for all four defendants are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 at 3 p.m.

Jason Wardlow Herrera’s case will be heard by Judge Sara Blankenhorn. His attorney is William H. Snowden.

Bianca Monet Enriquez’s case will be heard by Judge Sara Blankenhorn. Enriquez’s attorney is Gregory A. Payne.

Natalie Passalacqua’s case will be heard by Judge Ann Maxwell-Chavez and her attorney is Ahmad Assed.

Joseph Palmer’s case will also be heard by Judge Ann Maxwell-Chavez and his attorney is also Ahmad Assed.