Albuquerque, NM – An investigative report by KOB 4 Investigates reveals the failing system of New Mexico’s pretrial monitoring system – where one in five monitors go missing – allowing pretrial defendants to skip court.
According the the investigation, the results were centered around the Second Judicial Court’s Pretrial Services Division – one of two agencies that use the monitors, including Bernalillo County.
KOB 4 reports…
In August 2016, 42-year-old Stephanie Pacheco, a pretrial defendant, was allegedly in a stolen car behind a Home Depot when Albuquerque police officers arrested her. A judge ordered her to wear an ankle monitor until her next court date.
However, according to a six-month GPS monitor inventory 4 Investigates reviewed, she removed her GPS monitor and absconded.
Pretrial defendant Michael Prudhomme, facing a child abuse charge, allegedly allowed his GPS unit battery to die in October as well. Currently, he is still on the run from police.
Further, pretrial defendant Daniel Kessler, charged with attempted murder, was on the run for three weeks after he removed his tracking unit.
New Mexico Bail Reform, Risk Assessments, and Pretrial Services
- ZERO Accountability
- ZERO Deterrent
- ZERO Supervision
- ZERO concern for victims
- ZERO Bail…just a “pinky promise” to return
- Bail Reform – Dangerous, Reckless, and a Taxpayer Burden
RELATED:
4 Investigates: pretrial GPS ankle monitors go missing – so where do they end up?
Ankle monitors are supposed to keep New Mexicans safe by allowing the courts and corrections to keep tabs on suspects, but the Second Judicial District Court’s Pretrial Services Division’s GPS monitor inventory reveals one in every five monitors go missing.
Two agencies use GPS ankle monitors in Bernalillo County – the Second Judicial District Court’s Pretrial Services Division and Metropolitan Detention Center’s Community Custody Program, or CCP.
4 Investigates found that in 2017, out of 799 GPS trackers that were assigned to either pretrial or CCP defendants, 165 of the devices were lost or stolen. 154 of those lost devices belonged to pretrial services.
However, according to a six-month GPS monitor inventory 4 Investigates reviewed, she removed her GPS monitor and absconded.
You’ve been lied to New Mexico…
Bail Reform is reckless and dangerous – with zero regard for victims or criminal accountability.
so what is the period of time between when they ditch the bracelet and that fact is uncovered by LE? and also how long between the discovery and the issue of the warrant?