By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Colfax County Sheriff Deputies arrested Rick Ortiz on four charges according to paperwork filed in Colfax County Magistrate Court in Raton on May 1st, 2024.
According to court records Ortiz was charged with the following charges stemming from an incident or incidents on or about October 28, 2021.
On Count 1 Tampering with public records (altering a record) Ortiz did knowingly alter any public record without lawful authority, this is contrary to NMSA 1978, §30-26-01(A) a 4th degree felony. On Count 2 Perjury Ortiz did make a false statement, to wit Documents provided to the 8th Judicial District Court regarding a probation client’s SCRAM records, under oath or affirmation, material to the issue or matter involved in the course of any judicial, administrative, legislative or other official proceeding, knowing such statement to be untrue, contrary to NMSA 1978, §30-25-01 a 4th degree felony.
On Count 3 Forgery (making or altering – damage unquantifiable or not more than $2,500). Ortiz did falsely make or alter a signature to, or any part of [SCRAM Documents], a writing purporting to have legal efficacy, with intent to injure or defraud the 8th Judicial District Court, or another, and there is no quantifiable damage, or the damage is two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or less, contrary to NMSA 1978, §30-16-10(A)(1)(B). (a 4th degree felony)
On Count 4 Making false report of violation of the Criminal Code. Ortiz did intentionally make a report to a law enforcement agency or official, which report the defendant knew to be false at the time of making it, alleging a violation by another person of the provisions of the Criminal Code, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-39-01. (a misdemeanor)
At the time of the incident Rick Ortiz was employed by the Human Resources Development Association (HRDA) an organization charged with monitoring Urine Analysis for individuals on probation as well as SCRAM Devices (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring). Court Documents accuse Ortiz of changing UA test results as well as failing to report alcohol consumption by an individual being monitored with a SCRAM device.
