Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Andrea Reeb, announced that on July 6, 2021, Ernesto Martinez, age 32, of Clovis, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for 11 years. Martinez was found guilty on June 23, 2021 by a Curry County jury of Possession of a Controlled Substance, a fourth-degree felony and Tampering with Evidence, a fourth-degree felony.
On May 31, 2019 Officers with the Curry County Adult Detention Center observed Martinez, a detainee at the facility, attempting to pass an item to another detainee. The Detention staff took quick action and intercepted the item which contained methamphetamine. Officers then attempted to search Martinez and during the search he attempted to flush more methamphetamine down the toilet in his cell. Mr. Martinez, a sex offender, has prior felony convictions out of Georgia and New Mexico.
The Honorable Drew D. Tatum presided over the hearing and found Martinez to be a habitual offender and sentenced him to the maximum of 11 years.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney, Brian Stover, and Ernesto Martinez was represented by Criminal Defense Attorney, Sandra Gallagher of Clovis.
For more information, please contact the Office of the District Attorney, at 575-769-2246.
