Man sought in melee surrenders

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The Moriarity man wanted on a charge of attempted murder in a mid-April melee in Cubero surrendered at the Cibola County Sheriff's Office on Monday night.

Arthur Chavez, 26, was booked into the county jail where officials said Magistrate Eliseo Alcon released him on his own recognizance.

Magistrate Court records show Alcon imposed the eight standard release conditions, especially not having contact with any victims or witnesses in the case. The judge added a 9th condition, that Chavez be fingerprinted. The court records give an Albuquerque address for Chavez.

The warrant sought by Cibola County Deputy Sheriff George Hanna was issued April 17 and charged the defendant with 3rd-degree felony assault with intent to commit a violent felony (attempted murder). The affidavit for the arrest warrant and the criminal complaint alleged Chavez used a 1999 Dodge pickup truck to strike Arthur Chavez, 49, knocking him unconscious in front of his home on County Road 8 in Cubero.

Lt. Harry Hall of the sheriff's office said that additional information has come to light about what started the incident.

He said a concerned parent in the community tipped him that four teenage boys playing basketball at the local outdoor court had earlier thrown rocks and bottles at a girlfriend of Angel Vargas, 20, who then drove to the court on a motorcycle and punched one of them in the nose.

According to Hanna, the resulting chase ended up at the elder Chavez's home.

In all there were nine suspects, seven of whom were victims, plus a number of witnesses in a situation Hall said could resemble the Hatfields-McCoys feud.

Vargas, Deandre Chavez, 23, Arthur Chavez, 49, all of Cubero and George Chavez, 39, of San Fidel were arrested on charges of aggravated battery with belt buckles, knives and broom handles and released on their own recognizance for later court appearances. Arthur Chavez, 26, remained on the run until he surrendered.

The deputy sheriff referred the cases of the four boys, George Chavez, 15, of San Fidel, James Porter, 14, Francisco Chavez, 16, and Lorenzo Chavez, 14, for criminal property damage to the home of Arthur Chavez, 49, to juvenile authorities. Vargas allegedly punched Lorenzo Chavez in the nose and eye, Hanna said.

Useless keys stolen
A burglary on April 26 at a rural Milan home resulted in the theft of a set of keys that fit locks which had been rekeyed.

Cibola County Sheriff's Office Deputy Freddie Espinosa said he was on patrol approximately 11:40 a.m. when he was sent to the Hamilton home on Thunderbird Road. Dennis Hamilton, 71, said someone cut the screen door to a mobile home and took the set of seven keys.

Crimestoppers caseA Socorro man who was prospecting with a metal detector had his driver's side window broken and his cellular telephone stolen by fast-moving bandits using 4-wheelers on Sunday.

Deputy Sheriff George Hanna said that around 8 p.m. he was sent to the Chevron store on West Santa Fe Avenue in Grants to take the report from Charles Mandeville, 58. He parked his 1999 Oldsmobile Intrepid at the east of end of Fort Wingate Road. When he returned to the vehicle around 7:15 p.m., he saw three thieves leaving on a pair of 4-wheel cycles.

The loss and damage was valued at about $550. Mandeville admitted he did not have an identification of the cell phone to give the deputy. Neighbors reported seeing the fleeing thieves, but could not give an identification.

Anyone with information about the incident should telephone the Cibola Crime Stoppers at 287-8400. Callers may remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).