Vega Named Mesilla’s Permanent Marshal

MESILLA, N.M. (AP) – Mesilla has a new town marshal. The village’s trustees have voted unanimously (Monday) to appoint Angelo Vega to the job.

He’s been acting marshal.

Vega replaces Joe Mendez, who was placed on extended medical leave in November after breaking his leg during training. He decided to resign earlier this year.

Vega will be paid 50-thousand dollars a year to lead seven deputies and one sergeant.

Vega has been with the marshal’s office since August, two months after resigning as director of the state’s southern juvenile jail west of Las Cruces.

In 1996, he was indicted on two counts of extortion and two counts of intimidation of a witness stemming from an incident during his tenure as a Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy.

Vega pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false imprisonment.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-03-16-07 0719EDT