New Cibola undersheriff is arrested

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The newly appointed undersheriff of Cibola County, Mike Chavez, was arrested earlier this week on 18 charges that include embezzlement and intimidation of a witness among others, after a lengthy investigation stemming from incidents that allegedly occurred in DeBaca County where he held the position of sheriff before moving to this area. Details are vague at this point but initial reports from the New Mexico State Police indicate Chavez has surrendered to authorities in Fort Sumner.

“He turned himself in to Magistrate Court in Fort Sumner and bonded out,” said New Mexico State Police communications director, Peter Olson.

In addition to the legal issues that Chavez will be facing, the case also raises other questions regarding the hiring procedures and practices of law enforcement agencies, background checks on new hires, communication between various agencies and the ramifications of a damaged image of law enforcement in the public mind.

The legal issues of Chavez and the public relations impact on the Cibola County Sheriffs department will be reported as more details become available.