IT’S A FIRST FOR THE NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE. JOSEPH ROBERT GONZALES, ACCUSED OF A MURDER IN SANTA FE COUNTY IN 2009, WILL BE TRIED IN MEXICO WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED IN APRIL AFTER NINE YEARS AS A FUGITIVE. A-G HECTOR BALDERAS SAYS THE VICTIM, VICENTE ANCHONDO, WAS ORIGINALLY FROM MEXICO…AND HIS FAMILY REQUESTED THAT GONZALES BE TRIED THERE.
BALDERAS SAYS THEY BELIEVE SOME OF THE PENALTIES ARE STIFFER IN MEXICO AND THERE’S NO “GOOD TIME” FOR PRISON INMATES. GONZALES FACES UP TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON.
BALDERAS SAYS THE ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH AN AGREEMENT INVOLVING HIS OFFICE…THE SANTA FE COUNTY D-A…AND MEXICAN PROSECUTORS.
