DWI Convictions Fall Drastically In LC Municipal Court

by Doug Wernet

LAS CRUCES — A Las Cruces resident says the DWI conviction rate in the city’s municipal court has dropped drastically in recent years and he said he has the records to prove it.

Neil Goodell claims that records show that only four out of every 100 alleged drunk drivers tried in a municipal court is convicted.

“I was shocked when I found out the DWI conviction rates were so low,” said Goodell. He has been analyzing DWI case records from the municipal court since last October and believes the results are alarming.

Goodell claims Las Cruces police officers have lost confidence in the municipal court judges because of the small number of convictions. “My fear is that these drunk drivers are still out driving because the municipal court has not done its job,” he said, “it’s going to kill somebody.”

Goodell compared the conviction rates of three courts in Dona Ana County and presented those numbers to city council.

According to him, between 1997 and 2006, the Third Judicial District Court and Dona Ana County’s Magistrate Court had an 88% and 75% conviction rate respectively.

Records show the Municipal Court’s conviction rate was 73% in 1999. That dropped to only 4% in 2007, according to records.

“It may take going to the governor, the state legislature, or representatives,” Goodell said. “I just don’t know what to do … there’s no method of recourse.”

The Municipal Court’s presiding judges are Melissa Miller-Byrnes and James Locatelli.