TUESDAY,JULY 10,2018 Inside: 75¢ Deer roams Clovis park. — Page 2A Vol. 90 ◆ No. 86 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Judge declines to dismiss case against airmen ❏ Rape case set to go and prosecuting attorneys will have to attorney Craig Acorn on the grounds another attorney or victim advocate ed within the next three weeks, but be more communicative and profes- of “prosecutorial misconduct” after from the 9th Judicial District to attend said that timeline might be affected if to trial in October. sional with each other — and soon, Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian in his place. He cited the state’s Stover continued with his stated he said. Stover told the woman not to respond “Victim of Crimes Act” for his deci- intention to file a motion to separate By David Grieder “What I think this comes down to to a subpoena for a June 5 interview sion and said he was prepared to the three cases. Currently all three air- STAFF WRITER is essentially just poor communica- with Acorn. accept sanctions, but requested the men are joined on one case and each tion and lack of professionalism on “I have an absolute right to inter- case itself not be impacted. [email protected] charged with second-degree criminal both sides,” Tatum said at the end of view these witnesses without interfer- “He’s mad. He is a mad man. He is sexual penetration. CLOVIS —The case against three a motion hearing Monday afternoon ence,” Acorn said, adding that he mad about this,” Stover said of airmen charged with raping a col- in Curry County. “When I don’t see could be arrested if he had acted sim- Acorn’s position. Isaiah Edley, 19, appeared with his league early this year will not be dis- (professionalism), it drives me to the ilarly. “To say I’m mad - that’s not true,” attorney Acorn, as did Thomas missed, nor will the woman’s testi- wall. You will work together and you Stover said he couldn’t attend the Acorn responded, noting he’d filed a Newton, 25, with attorney Ben mony be excluded from the trial will get the interviews done.” interview with her that date and pre- complaint against Stover with the Herrmann. Rahman Buchanan, 19, scheduled for October, Judge Drew Interviews were at the core of the ferred it be rescheduled (currently set state bar association. “I’m outraged. “ also appeared with his newly appoint- Tatum ruled Monday. But defense motion, filed by Albuquerque defense for Wednesday) rather than have Tatum ruled interviews be conduct- ed public defender Mark Earnest. Trump picks Kavanaugh for Supreme Court seat ❏ Confirmation expected to be a heated battle. By Catherine Lucey, Zeke Miller and Mark Sherman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — After days of frenzied lobbying and speculation, President Donald Trump decided on federal appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh for his second nominee to the Supreme Court, setting up a ferocious confirmation battle with Democrats as he seeks to shift the nation’s highest court fur- ther to the right. Trump chose Kavanaugh to replace retir- ing Justice Anthony Kennedy. With customary fanfare, Trump planned to unveil his choice on prime-time TV. His final options were all young federal judges who Xinhua: Chiang Rai Pr Office could help remake the court for decades to Rescuers work near the cave where 12 young soccer team members and their coach were trapped in Chiang Rai, Thailand. come with precedent-shattering rulings on issues such as abortion, guns and health care. Top contenders had included federal appeals judges Raymond Kethledge, Amy Eight rescued from flooded Thai cave Coney Barrett and Thomas Hardiman, as well as Kavanaugh, who is currently a feder- ❏ Young soccer where they had sought refuge him to “keep showing us mercy.” to worry, adding that they hoped al appellate judge in the District of after a rainstorm flooded the mas- “Give us three more days and they wouldn’t get too much Columbia. players recuperating sive Tham Luan Nang Non cave the Boars will come out to see homework after being rescued Relishing the guessing game beyond the complex as they were exploring it the world, every one of them,” and couldn’t wait to eat their White House gates, Trump had little to say in a hospital. after soccer practice on June 23. Maj-Gen. Bancha Duriyapan favorite foods again. about his choice before the announcement. Their families were being kept at told a news conference punctu- Their friends were full of Some conservatives have expressed con- By Kaweewit Kaewjinda a distance because of fears of ated by applause from the optimism — and worry. cerns about Kavanaugh — a longtime judge and Stephen Wright infection and the emaciated-look- dozens of Thai and foreign jour- Phuwadech Kamnguen, a 14- and a former clerk for Kennedy — question- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ing boys were eating a rice-based nalists and others in attendance. year-old best friend of one of the ing his commitment to social issues like porridge because they were still “I beg Phra Pirun because the trapped boys, said he’s looking abortion and noting his time serving under MAE SAI, Thailand — The too weak to take regular food, Meteorological Department said forward to eating KFC with the President George W. Bush as evidence he is generals and other officials over- authorities said. that from Monday on there will team again. a more establishment choice. But his sup- seeing the desperate operation to Officials lavished praise on the be continuous rain,” Bancha “Even when my friends have porters have cited his experience and wide rescue 12 young soccer players Thai and international divers said. “If I ask too much, he left the cave, I’m worried about range of legal opinions. and their coach from a flooded who, in pairs of two, executed the might not provide it. So I’ve their physical well-being. From Ahead of his announcement, Trump tweet- cave labyrinth in Thailand’s swel- dangerous rescue mission, guid- been asking for three days.” what I’ve seen in the clip, they ed about the stakes: “I have long heard that tering far north were only half ing the boys, who could barely The plight of the boys, aged did look skinny,” he said. the most important decision a U.S. President joking when they quipped swim and had no diving experi- 11-16, and their coach, has riv- The boys’ nightmare experi- can make is the selection of a Supreme Court Monday that success was in the ence, through a treacherous 4- eted Thailand and much of the ence — trapped in claustropho- Justice - Will be announced tonight at 9:00 hands of the rain god Phra Pirun. kilometer-long (2 1/2-mile) world — from the heart-sinking bic darkness by rising waters — P.M.” They were celebrating a sec- escape route that twisted and news they were trapped to the resonated across the globe, riv- With Democrats determined to vigorously ond day of stunning triumph after turned through the cavern. first flickering video of the hud- eting people both in Thailand oppose Trump’s choice, the Senate confirma- divers guided four more boys Highlighting the extreme dan- dle of anxious yet smiling boys and internationally who anx- tion battle is expected to dominate the Monday through tight passages gers, a former Thai Navy SEAL brought back by the pair of iously watched the news coming months leading up to November’s midterm and dank flooded caverns to safe- died Friday while replenishing British divers who found them from this town along the border elections. Senate Republicans hold only a ty. “Two days, eight Boars,” read the oxygen canisters laid along after penetrating deep into the with Myanmar. After Monday’s 51-49 majority, leaving them hardly any a Facebook post by the Thai the route to the boys’ damp sprawling cave. rescues, Prime Minister Prayuth margin if Democrats hold the line. Navy SEALS of the dramatic res- refuge. Then came the letters carried Chan-ocha visited the eight Democratic senators running for re-election cue that began Sunday, more than But the chances of monsoon out by the teams of divers who freed boys in the hospital where in states Trump carried in 2016 will face two weeks after the members of rains sending torrents of water took oxygen, food and medicine they had been taken by helicop- pressure to back his nominee. the Wild Boars soccer team were into the cave and making the res- to the boys’ refuge as experts ter. Republican Sen. John Kennedy of trapped. Another five still await cue effort too risky is never far pondered whether to dive them Chiang Rai province’s acting Louisiana said he was bracing for a tough rescue, including the team’s 25- from the minds of everyone out or provision them for governor, Narongsak Osatanakorn, confirmation battle as Democrats focus on year-old coach. involved in the operation. months while the monsoon sea- who is in charge of the rescue, abortion. Kennedy, a member of the The eight rescued boys were Alluding to that worry, the son continues until at least late voiced confidence Monday in the Judiciary Committee, which will get the first recuperating in a hospital from regional army commander October. ongoing operation, provided the chance to question the nominee, predicted a their ordeal huddled together on a offered his thanks Monday to the Writing in elegant Thai script, weather doesn’t take a turn for the “rough, tough, down in the dirt, ear-pulling, tiny patch of higher ground rain god Phra Pirun, imploring the boys urged their parents not worse.