Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Andrea Reeb, announced that today, Ruben Lopez, age 25, of Clovis, was found guilty by a Curry County jury of Aggravated Burglary with a Deadly Weapon, Two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. The charges arose from an incident where the defendant burst into a home located at 520 W. 10th Street here in Clovis, NM and pointed a .22 rifle at two occupants. The Jury heard testimony from officers of the Clovis Police Department who investigated the case but did not hear from the victims who did not appear for court. Evidence, admitted in the form of recorded phone conversations, showed that the defendant had contacted the victims and coerced them to not appear at the trial.
The Honorable Matthew Chandler presided over the case today and sentenced Lopez to twenty years and six months. Five years and six months were suspended, leaving 15 years to serve in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. The Court remarked that he hoped that the sentence would send a message to anyone who might think of taking matters into their own hands.
Chief Deputy District Attorney, Brian Stover prosecuted the case for the State and criminal defense attorney, Ralph Dowden, of Clovis, represented Lopez.
For more information, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at 575-769-2246.
