By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
District Attorney Donald Gallegos has come under fire recently for problems in the DA’s office. Wednesday evening he was in Raton at the Colfax County Building to address how his office works and to answer some concerns from the citizens present.
Gallegos started out the meeting introducing his staff which has some new faces.
R to L Nadine Crosswhite, Diane Berry, Lisa Wolf, Reba Eggebrecht, Attorney Meghan Hasser, Attorney Tim Scheiderer
He noted that with two new attorneys in the office they have made great strides in closing cases. Gallegos explained why cases were closed, some with prosecution and others without. During 2014 the office closed 460 cases many of those handled with only one attorney in the office. Of those 240 concluded in convictions with 220 being dismissed for one of the many reasons Gallegos explained.
He went on to explain why cases this last year were dismissed and that many of them have been refiled. Often times cases were dismissed because an attorney failed to show or an officer failed to show up and even the victim themselves for one reason or another decided to not show up for court. Another reason that is becoming more prevalent for dismissal is mental illness.
He realized the office has had problems but he is looking to move forward in 2015 with the addition of the new attorneys in the office. He also addressed the question of wrongdoing in the office and he feels confident that he will be exonerated once the court sees all the evidence.
He wants people to know that he is working to improve things in the however he indicated the legislature holds the purse strings of his office and that of others in law enforcement. There have been cuts in many law enforcement agencies that have had a effect on drug interdiction and prosecution.
He also noted that he will be interviewing for a new investigator for the office since his current investigator has moved over to the Sheriff’s office.
Gallegos also plans to have another meeting possible in April to go over more details and also to include information on the 2013 year.
About 15 minutes into the meeting Gallegos explains why cases are closed and gives the 2014 numbers for the cases the Colfax County office handled.
the reason us victims didn’t show up for court is I for one was NEVER notified when there was a hearing or of the verdict. We have had to go get all paper work from district court building. Then the great run around, go to probation office, go to civil court again and then probation has the power to over rule the judges verdict and amended what the judge ordered. Colfax county is totally for the criminals and to hell with the victims. The probation office has the rudest and nastiest employees I have ever encountered. 100 percent for the criminals! My husband and I have and still are going through the steps to get answers, when a man is convicted to pay restitution how can a judges orders be changed? The DA that talked to my husband said there is nothing we can do, maybe go back to civil court. I want answers!