San Rafael felon found with stolen pistol, jewelry

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Erminio Dubois, 30, of a post office box in San Rafael, faces a preliminary hearing in Cibola County Magistrate Court on Sept. 25 in connection with being a felon in possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence and other charges.

A woman who was a passenger in a car that Dubois was driving, which was stopped by police allegedly because the Lincoln Towncar had an expired license plate, Elizabeth Morales, 21, of 429 Teresa, Grants, also faces a preliminary hearing on the same day on related charges.

Dubois faces up to nearly 6 1/2 years in state prison, a fine of $13,000 or both, if prosecuted and convicted of the three felony charges and two misdemeanors.

Police and the 13th Judicial District attorney’s office have filed charges of: One felony count each of receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm; and two misdemeanors: No license plate and no insurance on the Lincoln he was driving when stopped by police.

Morales faces up to nearly four years in state prison, up to $11,000 in fines, or both, if prosecuted and convicted of charges against her, which are: One count each of receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, both felonies; and one misdemeanor, Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Almost at 10:30 p.m., on Aug. 22, Grants Police Officer Jesse Nieto observed the Lincoln with an expired license plate, and as the car passed the 600 block of Inwood the officer observed something brown in color being thrown from the car, Magistrate Court records state.

Nieto called for assistance and Sgt. Jason Fank found a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver with a brown wooden handle in a brown holster at the stop where Nieto observed the item being thrown from the car. The weapon, which had five bullets in it, was later identified as being stolen in a burglary, according to court records.

Morales attempted to hide a controlled substance and a ring, also which was stolen in a burglary was also found, court records state.