He stands accused of attempting to terrorize Democrat officials by shooting at their homes.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A failed GOP candidate accused of orchestrating a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic elected officials in New Mexico’s largest city made his first appearance in court Wednesday.
Solomon Peña appeared via video shackled as the judge explained he would be held without bond pending a detention hearing scheduled for next month.
Prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to keep him behind bars until trial. But defense attorney Roberta Yurcic said she would request conditions be set so her client can be released as his case proceeds through state district court.
Peña is charged with multiple counts stemming from shootings that started in early December and continued in January. The charges include shooting at a home, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Authorities identified the 39-year-old felon as the key suspect using a combination of cellphone and vehicle records, bullet casings collected near the officials’ homes and information from a confidential witness.
Peña had posted on social media after the November election that it was “rigged” and he would not concede despite losing his bid for the statehouse by a landslide.
According to a criminal complaint, the political newcomer allegedly paid for four men to shoot at Democratic officials’ homes, including one house where a 10-year-old girl was asleep.
The case of Peña, who had posted photos of himself online with Donald Trump campaign material, is one of dozens across the United States where people have threatened, and in some cases attempted to carry out, violence against members of Congress, school board members and other election officials.
A self-proclaimed “MAGA king,” Peña expressed discontent with the election and the certification of the results in a text message sent to one of his alleged coconspirators in November.
Other messages included the addresses of the officials that were targeted.
A SWAT team arrested Peña on Monday.
……..
- Discussion
-
Solomon Peña, a failed GOP candidate accused of orchestrating a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic elected officials in New Mexico, made his first appearance in court today.https://t.co/rBFNjU7fo8
— POLITICO (@politico) January 18, 2023
White House calls New Mexico shootings targeting Democratic officials "shocking and horrifying" https://t.co/JU010mfsLM pic.twitter.com/crJatefF3Q
— The Hill (@thehill) January 19, 2023
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.