Jailed woman is arrested again

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — While in custody at the Cibola County Detention Center, Tabitha Cornell was arrested by Grants police for five felonies: one count of possession of methamphetamine; and four counts of child abuse.

Cornell was in custody following an arrest for shoplifting at a local store, Cibola County Magistrate Court records state.

She is facing 37.5 years in state prison, a fine of $45,000 or both, if prosecuted and convicted of all charges.

She appeared before Magistrate Jackie Fisher on Jan. 23, on the charges from the arrest on Jan. 20. He ordered her to complete random urinalysis tests through the Cibola Compliance program, and she has a preliminary examination on Tuesday in Magistrate Court.

Cornell was ruled indigent, and Daniel Salazar was appointed as her public defender.

Grants Police Chief Marty Vigil said he served the arrest warrant on Cornell.

"When we (police) are called to a home in response to a call, or are in a home legally, such as a search warrant, we are going to determine whether the home is safe," Vigil said.

"When children are present in an unsafe environment we are going to do everything we can to seek charges against those people for child abuse," he said.

The residence, a trailer at 1322 San Jose Drive, Grants, was issued a notice to vacate by a Grants Code Enforcement Officer because the house was determined to be unsafe, according to Magistrate Court records.

In early January the grandparents of Cornell's four children, ages 2, 5, 8 and 11 went to Grants police to report unsafe living conditions at the home, according to court records.

Cornell's husband had called the grandparents asking them to pick the children up because he had to go to work and she was in jail, court records state.

The grandparents showed photos of the living conditions to Grants police that revealed debris throughout the house, rotting food, propane tanks in the living room, anti-freeze on the floor next to a coffee table and a hallway that was blocked by children's toys and clothing and another propane tank, according to court records.

Police officers obtained a search warrant and entered the home finding a fire alarm disconnected, the water heater not vented, a wood stove not properly installed, trash, clothing and stacked bedding that increased the chance of fire. The code enforcement officer found the electrical wiring to be unsafe, court records state.

Police also found a packet of white powder on top of Tabitha Cornell's dresser. It was tested and showed positive for methamphetamine, court records state.

Cornell was interviewed at the detention center about the home and children and told officers the methamphetamine was hers, court records state.

— To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197, or e-mail: tiffin.independent@yahoo.com.