Trial date set for convicted sex offender
A 54-year-old convicted sex offender is expected to face a jury of his peers on nine new felony sexual assault charges starting on May 19.
Andrew Allmon of Cortez appeared before Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for an arraignment hearing. During the proceedings, Allmon pleaded not guilty to nine counts of sexual assault on a child stemming from multiple incidents that occurred last June at Allmon’s N. State Street residence.
District Attorney Will Furse said the trial is expected to last eight days. The jury trial is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. on May. 19.
Walker imposed a May 8 deadline for any potential plea deal.
In custody on a $30,000 bond, Allmon was indicted in August by a Montezuma County grand jury on the new felony charges.
Court records reveal an 8-year-old girl is the alleged victim in the case, and the alleged crimes occurred over a six-week period after the defendant invited the victim’s family to move into his residence while they were experiencing hard economic times.
Allmon was previously convicted in 2008 on charges of false imprisonment and sexual assault of a minor in San Juan County N.M.
Burglary suspects appear in court
A trio of burglary suspects all appeared in court this week. One defendant’s case was disposed, but two others moved forward.
Tara Montgomery, 31, of Dolores pled guilty before Walker on Tuesday, Feb. 18th to a felony drug possession charge in connection to the case. She is expected to be sentenced on March 18 to 24 months of supervised probation and be ordered to pay restitution.
With the plea deal, Montgomery avoids a maximum two-year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine.
Another suspect in the case, Mark Williams, 41, of Dolores, also appeared before Walker on Tuesday when the judge read the amended charges against the defendant. Williams now faces four felony second-degree burglary charges, a felony count for criminal mischief and a related misdemeanor offense. He’s scheduled to appear again in court on May 18 for a 1:30 p.m. motion’s hearing to determine whether an ankle bracelet monitoring system can be removed.
The third suspect in the case, Brent Walker, 59, of Dolores appeared before District Court Judge Todd Plewe on Thursday, Feb. 20. The defendant pleaded not guilty on all charges.
Plewe ordered a trial date for Brent Walker to start on Aug. 18. The jury trial is expected to last up to two weeks, according to Furse.
The alleged thefts by three defendants occurred in October at three separate locations, including QEP Energy Company, Resolute Natural Resources and a private motor home.
Court records reveal the suspects stole more than $20,000 in computer equipment, firearms, Native American artifacts and hunting equipment.
Records reveal an inmate at the Montezuma County jail led officials to a residence on County Road M.7 where a majority of the stolen goods were recovered.
Suspected jewel thief rejects deal
A suspected armed robber in a jewelry heist rejected a plea deal on Thursday at the request of his public defender.
Robert Rodriguez, 39, of Glendale, Ariz., faces a charge of aggravated robbery in connection to a Sept. 11 jewelry heist near the Ute Mountain Casino. On Thursday, Feb. 20, alternate public defender Katharine Whitney requested a continuance in the case in order to further investigate the alleged offense.
Plewe then set an Aug. 18 jury trial, imposing an April 24th plea deal deadline in the case. Furse indicated a plea deal is likely, but no details of the agreement were released.
A New Mexico man, also charged in connection to the case, is likely to be sentenced to a maximum 10-year prison sentence for his role in the armed robbery next month.
Ivan Martin, 26, of Farmington pled guilty to second-degree assault with intent to cause serious bodily harm earlier this month. Martin will be sentenced on March 18.
Court documents reveal that Martin told investigators that Rodriguez not only suggested they rob victim, but Rodriguez was also the triggerman in the shooting.
The victim escaped the robbery by jumping from a moving vehicle on Highway 491, suffering a gunshot wound to the right shoulder and severe road rash.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com
