Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman

JURY CONVICTS MAN OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER - Late this afternoon, a jury convicted Stephen McCorkle of first-degree murder and shooting at or from a motor vehicle. BACKGROUND- In November 2024, McCorkle was working at a gas station located on Lomas Blvd. NE. He went to the bathroom leaving the door unlocked. When he returned about 30 minutes later, he discovered two people stealing from the business. After confronting them, the suspects dropped the items and took off. McCorkle paced around the store, then got into his car and followed one of the suspects, then shot and killed James Rendon. Under New Mexico law, a conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence. Sentencing will take place at a later date. Gabe Kallen and Dana Beyal prosecuted this case.

TEEN PLEADS NO CONTEST IN ROBBERY AND FATAL SHOOTING OF 16-YEAR-OLD Today, Daniel Medrano Garcia pled no contest to multiple charges, including First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder, Armed Robbery with a Firearm Enhancement, and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. BACKGROUND: May 2024, Medrano and a group of teenagers planned to rob 16-year-old Jesus Quintana-Cota. During the course of that robbery, the victim was shot and killed. His body was later discovered on the mesa, where it had been left following the shooting. The attack was premeditated, with multiple people involved in coordinating the robbery. Medrano Garcia faces more than two decades in prison for his part in the crime.

JURY CONVICTS MAN WHO SHOT AND INJURED NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE OFFICER  A jury has found Caleb Elledge guilty of multiple charges, including aggravated assault and battery on a peace officer, following a 2022 incident involving a New Mexico State Police officer. On February 11, 2022, Elledge fled from Lt. Jeremy Vaughan after ramming a patrol vehicle at a gas station near Edgewood. The pursuit reached speeds over 100 MPH before the officer performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. This video shows the PIT maneuver that ended the pursuit. The footage has been stopped prior to the officer being struck by gunfire.

JURY CONVICTS MAN WHO SHOT NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE OFFICER IN THE NECK This afternoon, a jury found Caleb Elledge guilty of the following charges: Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer with Intent to Commit a Violent Felony Aggravated Battery on a Peace Officer (Deadly Weapon) Aggravated Battery on a Peace Officer (Great Bodily Harm) Aggravated Fleeing a law enforcement officer Tampering with Evidence Criminal Damage to Property Over $1,000 BACKGROUND: On February 11, 2022, New Mexico State Police Lt. Jeremy Vaughan encountered Caleb Elledge and his girlfriend at a gas station near Edgewood. A gas station employee reported that Elledge’s girlfriend was using drugs inside the store and flagged down the officer. When Lt. Vaughan approached Elledge’s vehicle, the defendant rammed his car into the officer’s patrol unit and took off. He sped down a two-lane road at speeds exceeding 100 MPH. Lt. Vaughan executed a PIT maneuver in an attempt to stop the vehicle. After coming to a stop, Elledge opened fire, striking Lt. Vaughan in the neck. Genia Gonzales and Adrian Gandara prosecuted this case. STATEMENT FROM BERNALILLO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAM BREGMAN - “This verdict sends a clear message that violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in our community. Lt. Vaughan showed extraordinary bravery in the face of life-threatening danger, and we are grateful for his service and recovery. I want to thank the jury for their careful attention to the evidence, as well as our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication to justice. Today’s outcome ensures that a dangerous individual is being held accountable for his actions.”

FIGHTING CRIME ON ABQ STREETS: UPDATE ON OPERATION TRIPLE BEAM / ROUTE 66 What began one year ago as Operation Route 66 has grown into a multi-agency effort to improve safety across Albuquerque’s Central corridor. After touring the area and recognizing the urgent need for action, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman launched Operation Route 66 one year ago —securing funding for overtime and coordinating local and state law enforcement partners. With the support of dedicated Prosecutor Jordan Machin and Crime Analyst Sabrina Slauson, hundreds of cases have been tracked, analyzed, and prosecuted. In the fall, federal partners joined the mission, expanding the initiative into what is now known as Operation Triple Beam—strengthening collaboration and increasing impact. *The Results So Far: More than 900 arrests since November 245 new felony cases filed by the District Attorney’s Office The U.S. Attorney’s Office is now prosecuting five of these cases Over 2,500 total arrests tied to Operation Route 66 Cases include 15 arrests tied to homicides This has been a massive undertaking—one driven by a deep commitment to public safety. *And we’re not done yet. With continued support and additional funding from lawmakers, this critical effort will move forward—making our communities safer, one case at a time. #ABQ #PublicSafety #OperationTripleBeam #Route66 #CommunitySafety

MAN DETAINED IN ROAD RAGE CASE SHOOTING & INJURING TWO PEOPLE -- TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY -- Today, a judge ruled Houston Raul Ruiz Licon will remain in custody as his case goes through the judicial process. BACKGROUND: March 3, police say he shot into another car, injuring two people during a road rage incident. The shooting happened near a local high school. Ruiz Licon is charged with multiple crimes including Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️

WELCOME BACK! 🎉 We’re excited to welcome back a familiar face to our Team! He first joined the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office as a Law Clerk in 2024 and has now returned as a member of our General Crimes Division, where he will be prosecuting felony crimes. We’re proud to have him back serving our community in this important role. For a variety of reasons, we often do not include the names of our staff members in our posts.

Fantastic news! An experienced law enforcement investigator has joined our office as a Special Investigator for our Cold Case Rape Team, also known as the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Unit. Because our agents often work undercover, we do not publicly identify them. Since 2025, our SAKI Unit has secured convictions against more than two dozen people in cold case rape investigations—some dating back decades—bringing long-overdue justice to victims.

🎉 We're excited to welcome three new staff members to our Metropolitan Court Division! Today, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman welcomed these talented professionals to the team, where they will help prosecute DWI and Domestic Violence cases and continue our mission to make our community safe. ⚖️ We're proud to have you join one of the Top Workplaces in New Mexico! 💼👏 Welcome to the team — we're glad you're here! #BernalilloCounty #TeamBCDA #WelcomeToTheTeam #PublicSafety #NewMexico #TopWorkplaces #CommunityStrong

JURY CONVICTS MAN FOR DEATH OF BABY CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO METH -- Late this afternoon, a jury convicted Lawrence Johnny Gabaldon of Reckless Abuse of a Child Resulting in Death, Abuse of a Child, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Fentanyl, and Trafficking Controlled Substances. BACKGROUND: July 16, 2023, an Albuquerque Police Officer was flagged down to a motel at Iliff Road in NW Albuquerque regarding a 6-month-old baby who wasn't breathing. The officer went inside and began rendering aid to the baby, but she died. The infant's twin sister was also in the room. She survived, although tests showed she too was exposed to multiple drugs. Investigators learned the baby's father, Gabaldon, was living in the motel room with the children's mother. Police discovered the room was littered with drugs and paraphernalia. OMI concluded the cause of death of the baby girl was the toxic effect of Meth. In May 2024, the baby's mother, Gloria Tesillo, was convicted for her part in the death of her little girl. This case was prosecuted by Rebekah Reyes and Savannah Brandenburg-Koch.

CONVICTED -- KIDNAPPING AND VIOLENT BATTERY -- CAUGHT ON SECURITY CAMERA - Late this afternoon, a jury convicted Carlos Torres of First Degree Kidnapping, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling. The crime happened November 29, 2023 near Central and Louisiana in SE Albuquerque. Torres kidnapped the victim, pulled his truck into an alleyway, ripped the victim out of the car, pistol-whipped her, then shot at a neighbor who intervened. The crime was caught on the neighbor's surveillance camera. Torres had recently been released from prison on a separate kidnapping and battery case when he committed this crime. He is facing more than four decades in prison for his latest conviction.

Thank you to the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce for hosting the CrimeSTAT luncheon and for the opportunity to share an update on the work being done at the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office. In 2025, more than 25,000 cases were referred to our office. Thanks to the dedication of our prosecutors and staff, we continue working every day to deliver justice, support victims, and strengthen public safety in our community. We're also proud to recognize two outstanding members of our team — Savannah Brandenburg-Koch and Rebekah Reyes — who were named Prosecutors of the Year! Their hard work and commitment to justice, especially for children who are victims of crime, make our community stronger. Congratulations! #BerncoDA #ABQChamberofCommerce #Albuquerque #PublicSafety

CONGRATULATIONS! Today, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce named not one, but two attorneys from the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office as TOP PROSECUTORS OF THE YEAR! Savannah Brandenburg-Koch heads our Special Victims Unit, and Rebekah Reyes is a Deputy District Attorney. Both women work daily on behalf of victims, especially children, who have experienced some of the worst crimes imaginable. Savannah and Rebekah often have trials back-to-back and are actually in trial this week. They took a quick break to receive their well-deserved awards. THEY ARE THE DEFINITION OF TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS! WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!