A Santa Fe County Justice of the Peace on Wednesday recused himself from a case involving one of many individuals suspected of toppling the Plaza obelisk, citing a letter despatched to the courtroom that accused the decide of holding a grudge towards him from an incident greater than twenty years in the past.
Justice of the Peace David Segura knowledgeable native gallery proprietor Stephen Fox, 72, that he was recusing himself from the case to dispel any questions on a good trial following Fox’s claims that Segura adopted him house whereas the decide was an officer with the Santa Fe Police Division.
Within the letter filed Dec. 29, Fox claimed Segura stated he was not “purported to be in that neighborhood,” as he walked house from work “22 or 23 years in the past.” He added he believed Segura’s judgment wouldn’t be neutral.
Segura stated he didn’t bear in mind the interplay and recusals are prohibited beneath state Supreme Courtroom pandemic tips. Segura added, nevertheless, he believed it was finest that he take away himself from the case.
“If he believes that he can’t get a [fair hearing] from me, he’s actually entitled to maneuver down the corridor,” Segura stated.
The case was reassigned to Justice of the Peace John Rysanek.
Fox faces two fourth-degree felony costs of prison harm to property over $1,000 and conspiracy to commit prison harm to property over $1,000.
He is also charged with illegal meeting, a petty misdemeanor.
Fox’s Dec. 29 letter was not his first to the courtroom relating to his case.
Justice of the Peace George Anaya Jr. admonished Fox for an electronic mail despatched to the courtroom Nov. 25 that sought to search out an “amicable resolution” to his case. That letter was despatched to Mayor Alan Webber, Santa Fe police Chief Andrew Padilla and Anaya.
On Indigenous Peoples Day, Native American activists and their allies pulled down the 152-year-old monument following three days of protest on the Plaza. The monument, erected to honor Civil Conflict Union troopers, had lengthy been decried as racist on account of an inscription on the base that after learn “savage Indians.” The phrase “savage” had been chiseled off by an nameless particular person many years in the past.
Segura additionally set preliminary hearings for 3 different individuals suspected of participating within the obelisk’s destruction.
Ryan Witt, 29; Lily Sage Schweitzer, 33; and native tattoo artist Daybreak Furlong, 46, will return to courtroom Feb. 23 for preliminary hearings.
In accordance with on-line courtroom information, Melissa Rose, 44, and her daughter, Lauren Straily, 28, will return to courtroom Jan. 20 for preliminary hearings.
All 5 face comparable costs, together with prison harm to property over $1,000, conspiracy to commit prison harm to property and illegal meeting.
