Convicted murderer’s trial postponed again
Convicted murderer Dominic Montoya got out of standing in front of a judge again by refusing to cooperate with police trying to transport him to court.
Montoya was supposed to stand trial for the 2006 murder of Adam Avalos last week. Montoya still did not make an appearance after the trial date was pushed back to Monday morning.
Officers told ABC-7 Montoya was so out of control he had to be carried into the holding cell in district court.
Then Montoya started banging his head on the bench in the cell. Attorneys said Montoya cut his forehead open doing this, leaving behind a puddle of blood on the bench.
They also said Montoya refused to get dressed at the Southern New Mexico Corrections facility, so officers had to bring him to the courthouse in his boxers.
Montoya’s hearing was originally scheduled for 9 a.m., but he put up such a fight officers could not get him to court on time.
Even after pushing the time back to 10:30 a.m., Montoya still managed to avoid facing a judge.
The court was prepared for behavior like this with more than 10 officers standing by to monitor Montoya and the courtroom.
Montoya is accused of murdering fellow inmate Adam Avalos back in 2006.
According to court documents, Montoya allegedly attacked Avalos in the shower and slashed him with a razor all over his body.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Scot Key said they tried everything possible to get Montoya in front of a judge.
“Largely, this is probably an act of futility today. With the court’s indulgence, we will make every attempt to make this trial goes on,” Key said.
The judge postponed Montoya’s trial date to Feb. 11, 2012.
Montoya was convicted of murder and attempted murder in Albuquerque in 1999.