Pretrial Detention Motions
Data last updated August 31, 2026
** Judge Chavez was sworn in March of 2025
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CONVICTED — JURY CONVICTS MAN OF RAPING CHILD MULTIPLE TIMES
Today, a Jury convicted Shane Michael Drapeaux of 5 counts of
Criminal Sexual Penetration of a minor.
The crimes happened between October 2020 and October 2022.
Drapeaux forced the child, who was between 13 and 14 years old at the time, to engage in sexual intercourse multiple times.
Savannah Brandenburg-Koch and Joe Stevens of our Special Victims Unit prosecuted this case.
Drapeaux faces up to 75 years in prison.
“Today’s guilty verdict is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Special Victims Unit. These prosecutors take on some of the most difficult and heartbreaking cases we see, and they never lose sight of the people behind those cases—the victims. They work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable and pursue justice for those who have been hurt. I’m proud of this team and the commitment they show every single day to seeking justice and standing up for victims.”
— Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and visited with us at the New Mexico State Fair this week! 🎡
We love hearing from our community, meeting new people, and having the opportunity to talk about the work we do every day at the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office.
And a special shoutout to our law enforcement officers and military members! 🇺🇸 Thank you for your service and for all you do for our communities and our country.
MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILD WHO WAS A RUNAWAY -
Today, Joseph Lacour-Benavidez pleaded guilty to four counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Minor, three counts of Child Abuse, and two counts of Criminal Sexual Communication with a Child.
The case began in April 2025, when Albuquerque police located two runaway juveniles, ages 11 and 14, inside Lacour-Benavidez’s home. Investigators discovered text messages showing Lacour-Benavidez had been in a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old for several months.
Lacour-Benavidez was already a registered sex offender for the 2002 rape of a 12-year-old.
He faces up to two decades in prison for today's conviction. Sentencing will take place next week.
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Pretrial Detention Motions - Office of the Second Judicial District Attorney
da2nd.nm.gov
PRETRIAL DETENTION MOTIONS A Pretrial Detention Motion (PDM) is a request from our prosecutors asking a judge to keep a defendant in custody while the case is pending, rather than release that person ...
WELCOME TO THE TEAM!
Today, a special agent with our Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Team—better known as our SAKI Team or Cold Case Rape Team—was sworn in.
For the past three years, our SAKI Team has worked tirelessly to investigate cold cases and pursue justice for survivors. The team has secured 44 convictions, many involving cases that were decades old.
These cases may be old, but they are never forgotten.
Welcome to the team—and thank you for helping us pursue justice, no matter how much time has passed.
MAN WHO EXPOSED HIMSELF AND WATCHED CHILDREN IN DRESSING ROOMS PLEADS GUILTY
This week, Timothy Riha pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated indecent exposure and two counts of voyeurism for a series of incidents at stores across Albuquerque in 2025.
Riha exposed himself while watching a mother and her young daughter in a fitting room at Coronado Mall. At Cottonwood Mall, he exposed himself in the food court.
At a Target on Paseo del Norte, he viewed a 17-year-old girl while she was changing clothes in the dressing room. Security video helped investigators identify Riha as the suspect.
At a different Target location, he viewed an 8-year-old girl in the dressing room.
Riha is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
NEVER FORGET.
Today, we remember the lives lost, the heroes who ran toward danger, and the families and communities forever changed by September 11, 2001.
We will always remember. 🇺🇸
FELONY WARRANT ARREST: AGENTS TRACK DOWN SUSPECT HIDING IN CRAWL SPACE
This week, agents with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office arrested Christopher Sanchez, who was wanted on felony charges of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Under 13) and Cruelty to Animals.
Sanchez tried to evade arrest by hiding in the crawl space of a condemned home. Our agents tracked him down and took him into custody.
Court records allege Sanchez was in possession of approximately 500 electronic files, including photos and videos containing Child Sexual Abuse Material. Investigators also found evidence that several dogs were being mistreated inside his residence.
Sanchez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center without incident.
Our agents are out there finding people with felony warrants and bringing them to justice.