Apr 3, 2008

State Drops Trujillo Case

By Sarah Welsh
SUN Assistant News Editor

A criminal case against former Española city councilor J. Patrick Trujillo has been dropped because the state discovered that the deadline for prosecution had already passed, District Attorney Henry Valdez confirmed Tuesday.

"Under any of the scenarios of potential charges, the statute of limitations would have run," Valdez said.

The news came as a surprise to Española Police, who just last week confirmed their investigation of Trujillo for alleged sexual misconduct involving minors during the 1990s. The case was picked up by the district attorney's office and was scheduled to go before a grand jury Wednesday (4/2), Española Police Sgt. Christian Lopez said.

Lopez learned Monday that his investigation, which was first opened in 2005, had stalled. Española Public Safety Chief Julian Gonzales said he and Lopez are both "miffed" that the case was dropped.

"Why we were going from zero to 60, back to zero, I can't tell you," Gonzales said. "I don't know."

Valdez, who agreed to comment only because the case had already been publicly disclosed by police, said proceedings are supposed to stay secret prior to charges being filed, precisely because sudden changes may occur.

"There's lots of cases that may or may not be scheduled for grand jury, that may be presented, for a number of reasons," Valdez said. "And that's why they're secret."

Valdez firmly denied that his office was under any political pressure to either prosecute or drop the case.

"In fact, I really hadn't spoken to anybody about this case until very, very recently," Valdez said. "There was absolutely no pressure or inquiry (of) any kind, of one way or the other."

Trujillo expressed relief at the outcome.

"I'm happy to hear that the grand jury target notice has been withdrawn and that the prosecution has been dropped," Trujillo said. "I hope that this will at least in part restore my good reputation, which I built on my long good work and concern for this community."

Last week Trujillo resigned from his position as Española Military Academy Board president. Board Vice President Joe Duran and Academy Principal Steven Baca both said the Board hadn't met to formally accept his request. Baca said he anticipates that Trujillo will return as Board president.

Asked about his status as the Academy, Trujillo said it was too soon to say.

"I haven't gotten that far," Trujillo said. "I'm trying to piece my life back together."

Time Runs Out
Valdez said it took time for his office to discover the time-limit issue because they were considering different charges which would have varying deadlines for prosecution. Although Valdez would not confirm the nature of Trujillo's case, he used child-abuse cases and sex cases involving minors as examples of differing legal rules.

"Particularly with child abuse cases, there's different scenarios when the statute (of limitations) begins to run," Valdez said. "It's not like other crimes (which is) just generally the date of the crime — the statute of limitations on sex cases involving minors, or abuse cases involving minors, has different rules."

According to state law, the time limit for prosecuting child abuse and molestation doesn't begin running when the crime is committed. Rather, it begins when the victim turns 18 or the incident is reported to police — whichever occurs first. From that point on, prosecutors are subject to standard statutes of limitations — six years for a second-degree felony, five years for a third-degree felony, and so on.

Valdez said all the scenarios considered by prosecutors had limitations expiring in October 2007 or earlier.

Lopez said he was told the statute of limitations in this case involved a third-degree felony — whose limit runs out after five years. Therefore, the state would have to bring formal charges by the time an alleged victim turned 23. If the crime rose to a more serious second-degree felony, the state would have just one additional year to launch prosecution. After that, no one can be prosecuted for the crime.

"It's too bad," Lopez said. "Knowing what I know about the case, I just feel bad for the (alleged) victims."

Lopez said he had originally been told the deadline for prosecution wouldn't pass until summertime, making an April grand jury date well within the limit.

"I didn't think there was a need for concern," Lopez said.

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

Time ran out, not once in the story did J Pat Trujillo state he was innocent. This only states that the statute of limitations (time) ran out. As far as I'm concerned he is still a child molester. Evidence from the Espanola Police Dept. have at least (2) two victims, and more to come. Shame on you Mr. Trujillo.

Anonymous said...

chester the molester goes free.....good statement on society.

Anonymous said...

he needs to get his due. nuff zed.

Anonymous said...

The Director will most likely give him a promotion. He surrounds himself with these kind of people...."Unethical Molesters".

Anonymous said...

"I'm happy to hear that the grand jury target notice has been withdrawn and that the prosecution has been dropped," Trujillo said. "I hope that this will at least in part restore my good reputation, which I built on my long good work and concern for this community."

Once a Pedophile, always a Pedophile!!! I suggest you leave the state.

Please note: Trujillo NEVER had a good reputation. Anyone that knew him, disliked him and knew he was a molester.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mikey, need a babysitter?

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that some folks are skirting pretty close to slander in their comments. I wonder about the future of blogs if the "owner" winds up getting in real trouble because of slanderous anonymous comments.

Anonymous said...

He runs with a guy named Gonzales in the same division...birds of a feather...

Anonymous said...

7:48 PM - maybe if Pat Trujillo hadn't ruined so many people's lives at LANL and then the lives of those kids perhaps then people would not be so "slanderous" as you put it.

Anonymous said...

There should be no statue of limitations for pedophilia, same as for murder. Pedophiles do incredible damage to young children which they must carry around for the rest of their adult lives.

I guess the big question now is whether J. Patrick Trujillo will keep his Q and his job with LANL. Since he wasn't prosecuted, my guess is yes on both of these counts.

Anonymous said...

It seems to me that some folks are skirting pretty close to slander in their comments. I wonder about the future of blogs if the "owner" winds up getting in real trouble because of slanderous anonymous comments.

4/3/08 7:48 PM

What is your daughters name?

Anonymous said...

I think that the fix was in on this one. Espanola has a lot of cronyism and is very corrupt.

Anonymous said...

Sure is convenient that Valdez just let the statute of limitations run out. Maybe he should be investigated?

Anonymous said...

Yes, Pat, go ahead and "piece your life back together." Just like all the many LANL employees whose careers you've trashed by launching investigations against them based on flimsy claims. Like all the ones you've sent home on "non-punitive" investigatory leave.

Anonymous said...

"Well, if it is not a pedophile or a molester, it is a homosexual.

Any and every form of sexual deviance should be taken seriously.

4/4/08 12:18 AM"

Homosexuality cannot be equated with child molesting. Child molesting is against the law. At the very least, it shows a lack of judgement and character. And sex crimes are more about power and control than sex, which for most people is consensual by definition or it would be assault.

The Lab says it has the right to yank our Q if it feels that our judgement is impaired. It is not unreasonable to argue that a child molester is not the best person to put in a management position. Clearly child molesters have a problem with impulse control and abuse of power.

DOE would care more if he was accused of arson or some other property crime. They don't care about damage to people.

Anonymous said...

"Well, if it is not a pedophile or a molester, it is a homosexual. Any and every form of sexual deviance should be taken seriously." - 12:18AM

Yes, especially the sorts of deviances that result in people getting knocked up and having kids like you. I'd estimate a good amount of bible humping was involved.

Anonymous said...

Watch out 10:45 AM. Don't feed the slimy trolls when they set up a trap.

I did enjoy your "bible humping" phrase, though. It conjures up some most interesting images.

Anonymous said...

Not once did Mr. Trujillo claim that he was innocent of these charges....

Anonymous said...

"Well, if it is not a pedophile or a molester, it is a homosexual.

Any and every form of sexual deviance should be taken seriously.

4/4/08 12:18 AM"

To the 12:18am troll.

Homosexuality is not a form of sexual deviance. Homosexuality is not morally wrong. Saying that homosexuality is a form of deviance is morally wrong.


Suppose that it turns out that Jesus was gay? Would that change anything that he had to say.

Anonymous said...

Slander? This guy's a public official (servant?),not to mention his HR role at the Lab. Is this the guy you want your wife to go to complain about sexual harassment in the workplace? Hell, maybe he WILL be promoted. He sure as hell is qualified now to be Rich Marquez' (Anistasio's right hand) protege'. Talk about a rogue gallery in our mist. What a wonderful place this is.

Anonymous said...

The (now-grown) children of my coworker were prepared to testify before the grand jury. The family is irate that this man gets away because of infighting and incompetence of DA's office and cops.

Pat Trujillo had best watch his back.

p.s. according to the LANL directory, he is currently "UNCLEARED."

Anonymous said...

Uhm...it's only slander if it's not true. No need to worry.

Anonymous said...

And what if Jesus was catholic? What then?

Anonymous said...

Homosexuality may not be "morally wrong," but the practice thereof is certainly against the law in many states.

Anonymous said...

"Homosexuality may not be "morally wrong," but the practice thereof is certainly against the law in many states.

4/4/08 8:24 PM"

Your statement is incorrect since
2003 and is offensive.

In fact 47 or the 50 states
have repealed anti-homosexual laws
and before 2003 37 have repealed sodomy laws. Remember in many states it was againts the law not to follow racist policies. You present a very weak argument. In any case do you feel it should be againts the law for two people of the same gender to be in love with each other?

New Mexico is thankfully one of the more enlightend states and allows for LGBT individuals and couples to petition to adopt. Sodomy laws in New Mexico have been struck down well before 1970.

The states that have been the latest to adhere to stiking down
sodomy laws are the southern states, Utah and Idaho.

On June 26, 2003, the US Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision struck down the Texas same-sex sodomy law, ruling that this private sexual conduct is protected by the liberty rights implicit in the due process clause of the United States Constitution. (See Lawrence v. Texas.) This decision invalidated all state sodomy laws insofar as they applied to noncommercial conduct in private between consenting civilian adults, and overruled an earlier ruling from 1986 in which Georgia's sodomy law had been upheld. (From Wikipedia)

Anonymous said...

DOE requires that if an "Cleared" employee is "charged" with a crime he or she must inform security in writing with in 15 days. Hopefully DOE will investagate this matter. Mr. Trujillo should be held accountable, either by the courts or Northern New Mexico.

Anonymous said...

Hold Trujillo accountable? Ha!!! Now if he was a whistleblower, rest assured he'd be held accountable. But a pedophile? No way. This is LANL we're talking about after all, and we have our priorities in order here. Sad, but true.

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone hold Trujillo accountable considering that nobody has held Wallace for his illegal and disgusting behavior as ADSR and then promoting him to the higher post of PADSTE so that he can retaliate and punish and harm the people who dared to ever question his fragile ego?

Anonymous said...

"Why would anyone hold Trujillo accountable considering that nobody has held Wallace for his illegal and disgusting behavior as ADSR and then promoting him to the higher post of PADSTE so that he can retaliate and punish and harm the people who dared to ever question his fragile ego?

4/5/08 12:49 PM"

What did Wallace ever do that was so bad? I have never heard of anything.

Anonymous said...

Yea...that's the ticket! Let's label Trujillo a whistleblower, not a molester! Now sit back and watch the surge of hostility well up. Not! Time for the sheeple to go back to sleep. Zzzzzz...

Anonymous said...

"And what if Jesus was catholic? What then?" 4/4/08 5:33 PM


We already know about Jesus' religion. He was a Jew. We also know from the Bible that he liked to 'party hardy' and hang around with lots of prostitutes, winos, and beggars.

The church has spent the last 2000 years trying to gussy up his image and take away the rough edges, but if you actually take the time to closely read the New Testament, Jesus comes across as a complex and very interesting fellow, warts and all.

And, by the way, in all of his lectures and parables he didn't take the time to say a single word about homosexuality. Philistines in our midst should chew on that thought for a while.

Anonymous said...

1:48 pm: Beware, Mr. "sheeple" is back! No rational post or carefully considered thought is safe! I say "Mr." but I suspect he is around 13 years old, and oh, so proud of his invention.

Anonymous said...

You know when it comes down to it, is the state or the country cannot lift a finger the responsibility falls to the masses. So, Pat, what do you have to say?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Homosexuality may not be "morally wrong," but the practice thereof is certainly against the law in many states.

4/4/08 8:24 PM

So if homosexuality is legal then so should pedophilia? There is no difference, both are unhealthy sexual deviance.

How can homosexuality be morally acceptable? I am not religous, but I am not tolerant.

Frank Young said...

"Vigilante justice" is for the lazy and weak. If you want to be effective then fix the system that allowed this to happen.

Anonymous said...

"How can homosexuality be morally acceptable?"

How can it not be morally acceptable?

Anonymous said...

4/5/08 10:37 PM

"Vigilante justice" is for the lazy and weak. If you want to be effective then fix the system that allowed this to happen.

The system that has allowed this to happen has been in place for many generations. This Laboratory and our government are operating hand in hand.

Recently an intoxicated LANL employee runs over an innocent person walking by a restaurant. Her Uncle is the City Chief of Police. House Speaker Ben Lujan's daughter is a Chief of Staff without any education. Although, he might get her a degree as he has for his son Ben Ray Lujan running for Congressman for the 3rd District. He suddenly has a bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Highlands. Don’t forget State Representative Debbie Rodella having a seizure in a closet with a male and nothing was done about it.

Patrick Trujillo was fortunate to have the City Police Department and the District Attorney's Office infighting on this case. You wonder who and why was so persistent to have this case stalled knowing the "Statue of Limitation" was close.

Corruption is from the bottom up! Vigilante Justice is the only why to get any justice anymore!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"How can homosexuality be morally acceptable?"

How can it not be morally acceptable?

4/5/08 11:23 PM


Sure, it is as accepible as pedophilia.

BTW, where is your daughter?

Anonymous said...

Homosexuality cannot be equated with child molesting. Child molesting is against the law. At the very least, it shows a lack of judgement and character. And sex crimes are more about power and control than sex, which for most people is consensual by definition or it would be assault.

Really? Do you really belive there is no difference? I have beachfront property to sell you....

Anonymous said...

You guys bickering about the definition/ morality of adult behavior should move it elsewhere.

Main point- We have a High-Level manager at the lab who held (is holding?) a Q clearance who may have sexually abused children. If the DOE investigators interview the potential witnesses and find true problems, you better believe they can pull his clearance. They don't require a trial.

At the very least, the lab should create a position for him outside management. Abusers are usually pretty crafty.

(I crossed paths with one or two abusers myself in past LANL management posns. They are causing other employees trouble here just like anywhere else.)

Anonymous said...

"You guys bickering about the definition/ morality of adult behavior should move it elsewhere.

Main point- We have a High-Level manager at the lab who held (is holding?) a Q clearance who may have sexually abused children. If the DOE investigators interview the potential witnesses and find true problems, you better believe they can pull his clearance. They don't require a trial.

At the very least, the lab should create a position for him outside management. Abusers are usually pretty crafty.

(I crossed paths with one or two abusers myself in past LANL management posns. They are causing other employees trouble here just like anywhere else.)

4/6/08 4:19 PM"

There is somthing that everyone should keep in mind. Namely, Mr Trujillo could be innocent of the charges. We just do not know and it is not our jobs to
decide, it is up to the courts. Like it or not but this is the system we have.
Remember innocent people have been accused of crimes in the past that where not true. Take the McMartin
preschool trial, everyone thought they where guilty also.

Anonymous said...

5:39 PM
I agree. I have never met Mr. Trujillo and he might well be innocent.

However, people on this blog who do know him seem to be saying that he has demonstrated shady interpersonal behaviors at work. Therefore, LANL should at least investigate- and move him out of management if there is reason. Same with the clearance folks.

A similar example might be someone caught with a pound of cocaine, who later got the charges thrown out of court. Their Q clearance could be cancelled for the cocaine - even without a conviction.

Anonymous said...

Could it be that the police chief was attempting to destroy a competitor's image just before an election?

Could it be that J.Pat is truly innocent of these charges?

Could it be that the newspaper (a fine speciman of news, not) only printed what they wanted you to read?

Could it be that placing people on investigatory leave is part of the job of everyone in ER?

Most common perpetrators of child sexual abuse are white straight men or priests... Why not be intolerant of those folks?

J.Pat was never charged with any crime -- quite possibly because there was no evidence or crime and the motives behind the charges were found out. So why should he lose his clearance?

hmmm such smart people...

Anonymous said...

4/9/08 9:12 AM - hmmm such smart people...

Absolutely NOT! Patrick Trujillo, you are NOT innocent. You were fortunate to have the "Statue of Limitations" exceed, otherwise your family would of exposed you! These young adults are the real victims.

Only because of the incompetency of law enforcement and the D.A.s Office you were not indicted.

Anonymous said...

4/6/08 8:20 AM: "Don’t forget State Representative Debbie Rodella having a seizure in a closet with a male and nothing was done about it."

I understand she bit off quite a chunk too.

Anonymous said...

This better explains "Mr" Trujillo's methods in his witch hunt investigations of Lab people. The zeal with which he ferretted out every little item on a person must be in an effort to cover up his own peccadillos with Northern New Mexico children. Take care since his own Sr. Management in HR condone and support him and all his methods. I'm just sorry that he won't be going to jail and become someone else's play thing.

Anonymous said...

It would be fun to see Marquez and Trujillo in the same jail cell for an extended period...

Anonymous said...

Yeah 151 - who do you think would rat the other one out first?

Anonymous said...

This is not just about patrick trujillo. Him and Richard Lucero (former mayor of Espanola) have been fucking each other and molesting little boys for decades. Richard Lucero is the monster who started all of this. He molested Patrick as a child, and now they are adult lovers. Patrick is a sick pedophile who has sponsored high school students students from foreign countries( he had one living with him at the time this story broke), he has paid young mens college tuition, he has moved minors across state lines to do his molestation. And NO ONE has done anything. The DA is an idiot...from Romo to Valdez- they let victims take all the heat...its no wonder that no one speaks up. There is no justice in this world. Trujillo has already lost his family, he will have to move (his house is for sale), and maybe him and lucero will run away to Peru and screw each other there. Rest assured Trujillo will die alone and with the world knowing the evil in his heart. The police and DA are worthless and just as guilty as he is now. I hope they sleep well at night knowing that this monster is out there, and will strike again.

Anonymous said...

its important to know that the charges failed because of a legal technicality - NOT i repeat NOT because of a lack of evidence. this are substantial charges, and the DA and police know he did it. does it really matter if he gets his job at LANL back? everyone around him will know what hes done. he cant hurt anyone anymore, thats whats important. no mother is gonna let him have access to her child. thats the only good thing that has come out of this story breaking. i pray for those victims that werent given their justice. they have been robbed of way too much. this pig needs to pay.

Anonymous said...

these dropped charges are not the only thing thats gonna lead to Trujillos fall from grace. he has been up to no good at work as well- he has been accused of harassing a female coworker for access to her underage son. its gonna be interesting how he wiggles his way out of that one. LANL execs need to be held accountable if he does manage to get out of that.