Local man indicted in girl's death

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A 27-year-old Grants man was indicted by the 13th Judicial District grand jury this week on seven separate charges stemming from a rollover accident the day after Christmas resulting in the death of a 17-year-old girl.

Johnny R. Lucero, of 1204 Del Norte, was indicted on: One count of homicide by vehicle (while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug), two counts of great bodily harm by vehicle (while driving under the influence of liquor or any drug), both third degree felonies; one count each of DWI, no driver's license and no insurance, all misdemeanors; and one count of open container in the vehicle, a petty misdemeanor.

He is still in custody at the Cibola County Detention center on those charges with no bond, said Lt. David Sisneros, detention center spokesman.

Lucero faces a hearing in 13th Judicial District Court on Feb. 9 in connection with this case.

If he is prosecuted and convicted of all counts, he could face up to slightly more than 12 years in state prison, up to a $13,000 fine, or both.

The incident
New Mexico State Police responded to a call from Laguna Police about a rolled vehicle about 7:30 p.m., Dec. 26, 2006, according to Cibola County Magistrate Court records.

When state police officers arrived, he found a 1991 Chevrolet rolled off the road on a curve at Mile Marker 17 on State Route 124 the road between McCartys and Acomita. All the occupants of the vehicle were non-tribal members resulting in the call to state police, court records state.

The car was being driven by Lucero, according to all the occupants. All had been drinking and several bottles of alcohol were found in the vehicle, court records state.

Ashley L. Coleman, 17, no address available, was ejected from the vehicle as a result of the accident. Four other people were also injured, including an unidentified individual who was air evacuated to a hospital in Albuquerque, court records state.

State Police found that Lucero was careless in driving the car which failed to make the turn eastbound on the highway and skidded, according to the statement of probable cause filed in Cibola County Magistrate Court.

The car overturned and Coleman was ejected, according to court records.

Three adult males, including Lucero, an adult woman and two teenage girls were in the vehicle, according to court records.

Unsuccessful
Attempts to acquire the level of blood alcohol in Lucero's body as a result of the drinking from the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office in Grants was unsuccessful.

Deputy District Attorney Randolph M. Collins was on vacation and Chief Deputy District Attorney F.B. Howden said his office could not provide the information on an open case since it had not yet been filed in district court records.

The blood alcohol level was drawn by the medical staff at Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Hospital in Acomita at the request of state police as part of the accident investigation.

State police did not return calls for comment on the case.

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