ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A judge is refusing to erase a $3,000 bill that a former Albuquerque police officer owes for jury questionnaires from his trial in the shooting death of his wife.
A jury in July acquitted Levi Chavez of killing his wife, 26-year-old Tera Chavez. KOAT-TV reports that defense attorney David Serna told Judge George Eichwald that Chavez is broke and can't pay the $3,000 owed the state. Eichwald says Chavez managed to pay his lawyers and others involved in his defense so he must pay the state.
Chavez also faces a civil trial in connection to his wife's death. He has said he can't afford an attorney to defend himself against that lawsuit.
The $3,000 represents half the cost of the questionnaires. The state paid for the other half.
