Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray announced today that David Valdez was convicted of 2nd-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm on February 11, 2025. The Honorable Fred Van Soelen sentenced Valdez to 13 years in the Department of Corrections, requiring him to serve 11 years before becoming eligible for parole.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on October 10, 2021, when Valdez and Victor Quintanilla attempted to rob an individual at 125 El Camino. The intended victim, Juan Luevano, was in possession of a large quantity of marijuana and cash. When Luevano refused to comply and advanced toward the assailants, he was shot. He later succumbed to his injuries.
This case is part of a broader prosecution effort. Victor Quintanilla was previously sentenced to 17 years in the Department of Corrections, while Beatrice Rivera, who recruited Valdez and Quintanilla, received a 12-year sentence. Each defendant is required to serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The case was prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Brett Carter, with Jonathan Schildgen of Albuquerque representing Valdez.
