New Mexico district attorney refuses to resign

The lawyer for a New Mexico district attorney who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from a 2016 traffic stop is rebuffing calls by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas for his client to step down.

Jim Foy said Tuesday that Francesca Martinez-Estevez will not resign and that the decision by the judge was fair to issue a conditional discharge given that she had “an incredibly clean record.”

Martinez-Estevez was ordered to serve one year of probation for reckless driving and disorderly conduct.

Martinez-Estevez initially faced multiple charges after the traffic stop near Silver City and was accused of abusing her power. Prosecutors are appealing an earlier decision to drop charges related to governmental conduct rules.

At the time of the stop, officers thought Martinez-Estevez was impaired but didn’t test her. Internal investigations were done and the officers were disciplined for how they handled the stop.