By Billy Donati
KRTN Multi-Media
Raul Romero, 34, pled guilty to two counts of second degree murder (with a firearm) and one count of tampering with evidence, on September 4th in the 8th Judicial District Court in Raton.
The guilty plea came almost fourteen months after the murders of Raton residents Angel Garcia and Justin Luksich, who were found by NM State Police in a remote area of Colfax County on June 28, 2013.
The guilty pleas were accepted by District Judge John Paternoster as four additional counts of Tampering with Evidence were dismissed by the District Attorney’s office in return for the guilty pleas.
Romero was sentenced to thirty-five years in the NM Dept. of Corrections by Paternoster, who suspended twelve years for a total period of incarceration of twenty-three years. Because the two murder pleas are considered “serious, violent offenses” in New Mexico, Romero must serve at least eighty percent of the sentence and upon his release will be placed on two years parole and five years supervised probation. Romero also will receive pre-sentence confinement credit for time spent at the Maldonado-Vigil Detention Center, where he has been held since his arrest.
Additional from State Police Press Release.
Suspect Pleads Guilty to Two Counts of Second Degree Murder in Colfax County District Court
Colfax County; On June 29, 2013, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau investigated two bodies which were found on County Road A11 near Raton, New Mexico. Through the investigation State Police learned that Raul Romero was a person of interest. After a thorough investigation, agentsinterviewed Mr. Romero who confessed to the murders. He was then arrested and charged with two counts of second degree murder and five counts of tampering with evidence.
On September 4, 2014, Raul Romero pled guilty to the two counts of second degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence. Mr. Romero was sentenced to 35 years in prison with 12 years suspended in Colfax County District Court.
