Statement on the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Appeal in the Pretrial Detention Decision for Defendant Cristian Bencomo

Background: On May 8, 2024, Cristian Bencomo shot his stepmother during a graduation ceremony at Albuquerque’s Convention Center. The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office filed for his preventive detention, but Judge Emeterio Rudolfo denied it, placing Bencomo under house arrest with a GPS monitor. After new evidence emerged, the DA’s Office requested reconsideration, which Judge Rudolfo also denied, leading to Bencomo’s release.


Statement: “Cristian Bencomo’s release is just the latest example of a revolving door that places our entire community at risk,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “If judges won’t detain someone who was captured on video shooting a woman during a graduation ceremony at the convention center, then who will they detain? It’s even more galling when someone like this is placed on a GPS monitor and yet journalists are denied even basic information about when defendants like Bencomo violate the restrictions imposed by the court,” Torrez added. “The community is fed up and it’s long past time for the legislature step up and address this issue.”


A copy of the filed appeal can be downloaded here.