Darner’s wife, Paula, also faces charges

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Paula D. Darner, wife of embattled former Grants game park owner Kirt Darner, is charged with a number of felonies in a similar case to that of her husband.
Paula Darner has a 13th Judicial District trial date of July 21.

The outcome of her case depends on what happens to her husband, District Attorney Lemuel Martinez said on Monday.

Kirt Darner has a June 23 trial date following five previous postponements in the past two years.

Martinez also said on Monday that the district attorney’s office will prosecute him prior to his wife’s case.

“In the vast majority of cases we offer a plea deal,” he said. “Both of these cases are no different than any of the other cases in which we offer pleas.”

However, Martinez would not confirm whether the DA’s office has offered a plea to either of the Darners, citing that would be talking about part of the case that is inappropriate.

The same crimes

Plainly, on the face of the charges, the crimes were identical, it is just that two people are charged with committing the same crimes.

Charges were filed against Paula Darner because she operated the Lobo Canyon big game park along with her husband, meaning, “she is either an accessory, aided or abetted him or a co-conspirator in the case,” Martinez said.

Grand jury indictments, returned on Feb. 1, 2006, against Paula Darner are: Two counts of receiving stolen property valued at more than $20,000 (two sheep’s heads); two counts of transportation of stolen livestock (elk); two counts of conspiracy to transport stolen livestock( elk); four counts of unlawful possession of big game (elk); four counts of failure to support an invoice for sale of live game (elk); one count of failure to maintain aggregate number of game (live elk); and four counts of failure to have two forms of identification and health certificates.

At issue is the alleged illegal possession of one each Rocky Mountain and Desert Bighorn sheep heads, having too many elk in the game park and selling elk without licenses or health certificates.

Trials postponed

Paula Darner has had several postponements of her trial date because her husband has had at least five delays.

Previous trial dates for Paula Darner were: June 19, 2006; Oct. 16, 2006; Jan. 22, 2007; May 21, 2007; July 23, 2007; Jan. 28, 2008; resulting in the current trial date of July 21, 2008.

Kirt Darner’s postponed trials have resulted in the new trial date of June 23.

Martinez said he thinks this time the trial will actually happen.

“Both sides are tired of all the delays,” he said.

Martinez said if two expert witnesses, the convicted felon Darren Holley and wildlife appraiser Kurt Klineburger, are both excluded from testifying in the Kirt Darner trial, it will not affect the prosecution’s case.

Darner could serve nearly 44 years in state prison and be fined up to $58,000 if he is convicted.

Martinez said Paula Darner faces up to 25 years in state prison, a fine of more than $75,000, or both, if she is prosecuted and convicted of all charges.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin e-mail call (505) 285-4560, or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.