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Las Cruces Police Arrest Suspects In Burglaries

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested three suspects - including a 49-year-old woman and her son - and have obtained warrants for three others for their involvement in a string of residential burglaries and the transferring of weapons taken during those thefts.

Priscilla Flores, 49, her son Adrian Monares, 26, and Nancy Saenz, 23, are already in custody. Warrants have been issued for the arrests of Jerry Fernandez, 29, Rodrigo "Rowdy" Lunares, 44, and 26-year-old Steven Malone.

Las Cruces Police - with the assistance from the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico State Police and the U.S. Marshals Office - learned that Flores and Monares were involved in at least four residential burglaries since January 2011. In most of the cases, Flores would drive her son to the home that was to be burglarized and would wait in her vehicle while Monares committed the crime.

Fernandez is believed to have assisted Monares during at least two of the burglaries, and Saenz helped during one of the thefts. Police learned that the stolen items, including at least four firearms, electronics and other personal properties, were then taken to the home shared by Monares and Saenz, his girlfriend.

Monares, Fernandez and Flores are believed to have then sold or traded at least two of the firearms to Malone for cocaine. Flores is believed to have disposed of one rifle taken during a burglary and, along with Lunares, sold another rifle to someone else.

Monares is charged with aggravated burglary, four counts of conspiracy, three counts of residential burglary, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of receiving or disposing of a stolen firearm. Flores is charged with aggravated burglary, three counts of conspiracy, two counts of residential burglary and one count each of possession of a firearm by a felon, and receiving or disposing of stolen firearm.

Fernandez is charged with one count each of aggravated burglary and residential burglary and two counts each of conspiracy, possession of a firearm by a felon, and receiving or disposing of a stolen firearm.

Malone is charged with two counts each of possession of a firearm by a felon and receiving stolen property. Lunarez is charged with one count each of possession of a firearm by a felon and receiving or disposing of a stolen firearm. Saenz is charged with one count each of aggravated burglary and conspiracy.

Flores and Monares are being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center and Saenz is in custody on a $25,000 bond. Arrest warrants have been issued for Lunares, Fernandez and Malone.

Detectives are continuing their investigations. Additional arrests, and additional charges, are possible.