Cibola grand jury hands down indictments
Murder, drugs, criminal sexual contact charged

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Perversion, drugs, attempted murder and beatings ... it's just another week in the Cibola County judicial system.

Members of a newly seated Cibola County Grand Jury in the Thirteenth Judicial District heard evidence in a case on Sam Bruce Sr., 74, charged with allegedly criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third degree. Bruce allegedly unlawfully and intentionally touched a young girl's intimate parts, or caused her to touch his intimate parts. According to the indictment, the reported crime happened July 28, 2004, in Ciblola County and the young girl was less than 13 years old. The crime is a third degree felony. Bruce faces up to three years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.

In another case, grand jurors handed up a true bill against Sonny Gonzales, 51, of Cibola County and charged him with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third degree (child under 13). The first count alleges Gonzales unlawfully and intentionally touched or applied force to the intimate parts of a girl under 13 years old between Nov. 3, 1999 and Nov. 2, 2000. The second charge alleges Gonzales did the same thing between Nov. 3, 2000 and Nov. 2, 2001. Gonzales faces up to six years in prison and/or fines up to $10,000.

The grand jury indicted Xavier Farias, 21, of Casa Blanca, with trafficking controlled substances by possession with intent to distribute, a second degree felony, on Oct. 7, 2004; abuse of a child, a third degree felony on Oct. 7, 2004; possession of cocaine, a fourth degree felony on Oct. 7, 2004; and possession, delivery or manufacture of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, on Oct. 7, 2004. The law allows adults who have children with them while committing a crime to be charged with child abuse, a third degree felony. Farias faces up to 14 and one-half years in prison and/or up to $16,000 in fines.

Grand jury members heard the case of Tina Trujillo, 36, who, on Dec. 5, 2004, allegedly assaulted a household member with an ax. The crime is a fourth degree felony. Trujillo faces up to 18 months behind bars and/or a $5,000 fine.

Criminal informations, which are charges filed by the district attorney's office, were filed against Vincent Pena, 34, of Grants, charging him with the Nov. 17, alleged attempted murder of Amy Pena, a second degree felony; and battery upon a household member, a misdemeanor, on Nov. 17. According to the criminal information, Pena waived his right to a preliminary hearing. In all, Pena faces up to 10 years behind bars and/or $6,000 in fines.

A criminal information was also filed against Joseph Edaakie, 19, of Grants. The criminal information stems from a Dec. 2, brawl. According to the court document, Edaakie is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a third degree felony; tampering with evidence, a fourth degree felony; use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor; resisting arrest, a misdemeanor; assault on a peace officer, a misdemeanor; another case of resisting arrest; and criminal damage to property ($1,000 or less). Edaakie faces up to nine and one-half years in prison and/or up to $15,000 in fines.