LAS CRUCES – Attorneys for the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office appeared before District Judge Douglas R. Driggers Friday to request no bond in the murder case against Taylor James Enriquez.
Enriquez, 19, was indicted March 9 by a Las Cruces grand jury on charges of first degree murder, false imprisonment and aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm.
Enriquez stands accused of murdering 23-year-old Alberto Nuñez-Lopez on Feb. 27, 2017. Prosecutors believe Enriquez used a shovel to hit Nuñez and then used a bottle to strike Nuñez’s before stabbing the victim in the neck with the broken bottle.
Magistrate Judge Conrad Perea originally ordered Enriquez to be held without bond, but Driggers later reduced it to $100,000 secured bond after the defendant was indicted by a Las Cruces grand jury.
Driggers on Friday denied the State’s request, keeping the bond set at $100,000. About 50 of Nuñez’s friends and relatives attended Friday’s hearing.
Senior Trial Attorney Rebecca C. Duffin argued for the bond increase on behalf of the State.
“While we were hopeful the judge would reconsider his prior decision on bond, our request was denied,” Duffin said. “The state’s request was consistent with the constitutional amendment passed by voters in November. New Mexicans have sent a clear signal that capital offenses should carry no bond. We are considering our options as we move forward with this case.”
BACKGROUND: On February 26, officers responded to 623 S. Manzanita St. in Las Cruces around 8 p.m. When officers arrived, they said they found Nuñez had suffered multiple lacerations to his head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives said Nuñez and Enriquez had been in an argument outside of the home about 30 minutes prior to the alleged attack. The argument became physical, and at some point, Enriquez allegedly used a shovel to hit Nuñez and then used a bottle to strike Nuñez’s neck.
A 61-year-old man who lives at the home went outside to see what was happening and was also attacked by Enriquez, according to police documents. Enriquez allegedly beat the 61-year-old man and held him on the ground for about 20 minutes. Other people who live at the home got to the scene and found the injured 61-year-old man and Nuñez’s body in the yard, police said. Some of those people physically restrained Enriquez until police arrived.
Information from Third Judicial District Attorney's office