Grants man has record of 17 arrests

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Roger Molina, 31, of 724 Truman, is currently in custody at the Cibola County Detention Center on a no bond hold in connection with several felonies, including robbery, burglary and false imprisonment, Detention Center Lt. David Sisneros said.

Molina has been arrested at least 17 times since 1996, on a variety of charges including: Auto burglary, receiving and disposing of stolen property, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, DWI, driving on a suspended license and felon in possession of a weapon.

Molina has a preliminary hearing in the current case, in Cibola County Magistrate Court, on Oct. 28.

Some of the arrest charges were dismissed, some were bound over to district court, where on one set of charges of receiving a stolen vehicle, he was sentenced to three years and six months in state prison. Molina was also required to complete an outpatient program at a drug and alcohol treatment program.

He was arrested on a felony warrant out of Cibola County Magistrate Court in connection with four felonies, robbery, burglary, auto burglary, false imprisonment and larceny on Oct. 2.

Grants Police Detective Sgt. John Castaneda, spokesman for the department, said a call to CrimeStoppers alerted police to Molina’s whereabouts on Oct. 2.

Two police officers stopped him on Interstate Highway 40, at exit 85, as he was leaving Grants heading toward Albuquerque, Castaneda said.

“Mr. Molina is a dangerous man on the streets,” Castaneda said. “He is not one of our upstanding citizens. Mr. Molina does have a drug habit.”

If Molina is prosecuted and convicted of all charges, he could face up to six years in state prison, a fine of up to $16,000, or both.

Current charges stem from Molina breaking into a home in the 700 block of Iron Street in Grants on Sept. 23.

At that time, Molina was found standing in the living room of the house by the victim. He asked her where another individual was, according to Magistrate Court records.

Molina did not let the victim call police or leave while he went into the other individual's room and ransacked it, apparently looking for something, court records state.

He then left with two New Mexico Lobo blankets and a drill as well as a leather jacket, according to court records.

Molina then broke into a car in the driveway and took a stereo from the dash. He told the victim not to call police and left, court records state

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