By KRWG News
Portales,. New Mexico – PORTALES, N.M. (KRWG) A Portales attorney is facing an assault charge after authorities say he tried to run down a district judge outside a county courthouse.
The Portales News-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/oqXTiX) that Portales attorney Eric Dixon is accused of attempting to run down District Judge Ted Hartley with a vehicle in April outside the Curry County Courthouse.
Third Judicial District Attorney Amy Orlando of Las Cruces said Dixon was charged Wednesday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a fourth-degree felony.
Orlando said she was appointed as special prosecutor in the case after 9th Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler stepped aside, citing a conflict of interest.
According to court documents, Dixon told an investigator that he was "in no way attempting to scare Hartley."
Hartley declined comment Wednesday.
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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG