ENMU Student Arrested for Alleged Rape
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THURSDAY,MARCH 9, 2017 Inside: 75¢ Women strike in day of protest — Page 4B Vol. 88 ◆ No. 294 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Defendant expected to take plea in slaying ❏ Matthew Jennings accused in 2014 fatal stabbing of Ariel Ulibarri. By Kevin Wilson MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] In four weeks, a nightmare of more than two years is expected to see a closing of sorts for family of Ariel Ulibarri. That’s when District Attorney Andrea Reeb said she expects a plea deal to be accepted by Matthew Jennings. Jennings, 28, is accused of fatally stabbing Ulibarri, a 23-year-old mother of two, on Nov. 9, 2014, at the Goodwin Lake Walking Trails Park. Reeb said an intent to Staff photo: Eamon Scarbrough plead guilty is not in writ- Jennings Curt Jaynes, owner of Gardensource Nursery and Landscaping, teaches a group of second-grade students how to plant ing, but she expects that to seeds in their community garden Tuesday afternoon at James Elementary School. happen based on other documentation in the case. ❏ A motion has been filed Students at Portales’ James by Stephen McIlwain, Elementary school working Jennings’ attorney, for a HOW DOES YOUR change of plea and vaca- together to grow onions, tion of Jennings’ April 17 trial date. In the trial’s tomatoes and other vegetables. place will be a 3 p.m. April 6 hearing before Ulibarri GARDEN GROW EDUCATION FEATURE District Judge Drew Tatum. Members of Ulibarri’s family plan to By Eamon Scarbrough “I think it’s awesome. They’re A number of students said they enjoyed speak during the hearing. STAFF WRITER the hands-on nature of gardening, as well as “Honestly, it’s a big relief,” said LeAnna [email protected] learning how to work together, the food that is grown as a result. Montano, Ulibarri’s sister, of the two-plus they’re learning how to plan, what Joshua Martinez, 9, and Leo Cordova, 7, years waiting for justice. “Relief isn’t real- The seeds of both vegetables and knowl- agreed that digging in the dirt was their the compost is. It’s just going to be ly the word. It’s been a frustration, because edge were planted Tuesday afternoon at favorite part of making their garden. it’s been frustrating going through this James Elementary School, as eight second - fun to watch them grow, and (for us 8-year-old Alyssa Rodriguez, however, process.” rade classes worked on their new communi- to) be responsible for them.” wasn’t so quick to say she enjoyed digging. Under the expected plea agreement, ty vegetable gardens. “The dirt gets in my fingernails,” she Jennings would receive a life sentence — The gardens, which will yield onions, —Kelli Ramirez, second-grade teacher said. defined in New Mexico as 30 years before tomatoes, and various other vegetables, was Second-grade teacher Kelli Ramirez said the possibility of parole. Had Jennings instilling in children a reverence for organic the idea of Healthy Kids New Mexico she looked forward to watching the children gone to trial, he would have also faced a Roosevelt County Co-coordinator Caron living, so they can adopt a healthy lifestyle grow as a result of working on this project. tampering-with-evidence charge, which Powers. early. “I think it’s awesome. They’re learning would have carried an additional six years. “When I came and wanted to present it “I think it’s important that children learn how to work together, they’re learning how Reeb said the plea could not be offered with Miss McKinney (Deanne, James prin- how to garden from an early age because of to plan, what the compost is. It’s just going until Jennings was found competent to cipal), all I had to say was, ‘How do you the health benefits of growing a garden, and to be fun to watch them grow, and (for us to) stand trial — which happened in February feel about a garden? What do we need to if they have the tools and the know-how to be responsible for them,” she said. — and giving up the tampering charge do?’ She was on board,” she said. plant, they can be successful at it,” he said, Powers said a harvest is planned in May gives the family closure while saving the Powers enlisted the help of Gardensource mentioning that he visited James a week to show the students the fruits of their labor. state the cost of a trial. Nursery and Landscaping owner Curt earlier to teach the students about compost- The Portales Recreation Center will help “I’m more happy for the family than us Jaynes, who, with the help of his employ- ing. “Now they know about composting, maintain the garden for the summer, and getting it closed,” Reeb said. “In ees, walked the students through the process they know about how to protect the environ- Powers said she hopes to add six more beds, December, it was unexpectedly continued. of planting and maintaining their gardens. ment by returning to it what we take from it, so “eventually every classroom will have a Jaynes emphasized the importance of and how to get a good garden.” bed.” PLEA on Page 5A ENMU student arrested for alleged rape ❏ Joel Torres being police in November responded to a Torres also told police the victim ly remembered being in a vehicle on criminal sexual contact, a misde- dormitory on the campus for a wel- had “second thoughts” upon arriving the way back to the dorms, then her meanor. held on $10,000 cash fare check in which to his dorm room, but then “she next memory was of Torres on top of Gerald E. Gaines, 66, is at Roosevelt police made con- came on to me” and “it wasn’t like her. County Detention Center on a $15,000 or surety bond. tact with a female she didn’t want to.” He said he asked ENMU Vice President of Students cash only bond. It was not immediate- student. The fresh- her twice if she was “sure about Affairs Jeff Long said Wednesday an ly known if he had an attorney. By Alisa Boswell man student told this,” and she did not verbally institutional investigation was com- According to an arrest affidavit, MANAGING EDITOR police she had been answer either time but kept kissing pleted the end of February and the Gaines allegedly inappropriately [email protected] sexually assaulted him. university will not be expelling touched and penetrated a 19-year- about two weeks Two witnesses to the interactions Torres, saying it was “based on the old blind and autistic female that he An Eastern New Mexico prior, according to between Torres and the female evidence we had at the time of the had been hired to serve as caretaker University student was arrested court documents. teenager at a party the night of the investigation that led us to that deci- for. Tuesday for allegedly raping another It was not imme- Torres incident both said the victim sion.” According to the affidavit, Gaines student. diately known if appeared to be intoxicated “with red- District Attorney Andrea Reeb admitted to sheriff’s deputies he had Joel Torres, Jr., 18, was charged Torres had an attorney. dish eyes.” said if convicted, Torres will have to touched the teen while she was with criminal sexual penetration, a Torres, records show, admitted to In text messages between Torres register as a sex offender. unclothed but denied any penetra- third-degree felony. He is at having sexual intercourse with the and the female the night of the inci- Another Portales man was arrest- tion, saying “it was their little Roosevelt County Detention Center girl, saying she seemed coherent dent, she stated twice she was “so ed Monday on three counts of crim- game.” on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. and, “if they are too drunk, (Torres) drunk.” inal sexual penetration, a third- The incidents had allegedly been Eastern New Mexico University won’t even talk to them.” The female told police she vague- degree felony, and two counts of occurring since October. Forecast: Today Friday Saturday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................6A High: 82 High: 75 High: 72 Classified ..........................6B Markets ............................2A Comics ..............................5B Obituaries..........................3A Low: 43 Low: 48 Low: 31 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Judge postpones motion decision Events calendar Today Library. Book: Neverwhere by Neil ■ By Kurt Munz-Raper achieved that,” said Knudson. “The return to its owner if left at the kennel. Colour Creators — 10 a.m., Gailman. Information: 575-763- 6 p.m. at Clovis-Carver Public 9687 STAFF WRITER case itself substantially has no merit.” Dixon said the lawsuit could have Dixon said Elida was suffering been prevented if Parker discussed the Library. Information: 575-769-7840 [email protected] ■ Preschool story hour — 10 Tuesday irreparable injury because of the matter with Mayor Dixon over the ■ CLOVIS — A district judge post- inability to enforce ordinances and a.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Quilters Tuesday — 6 p.m. at phone, but added Parker refused to do Library. Book: M is for Music. Clovis-Carver Public Library. poned granting a motion against incidents. so. Information: 575-769-7840 Lesson: Iron travel mat, caddie. Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin “The sheriff has no power to over- Van Soelen asked Dixon what the ■ Teen game day — 4:30 p.m. Registration required. Information: Parker that said he had no right to rule town ordinance and interfere with mayor would have said to Parker to at Portales Public Library for ages 575-763-9687 interfere with Elida law enforcement.