DA looks to suspect for clues about killing

I guess Luke should have stayed in jail. The DA is already grasping at straws to make this stick, if he had a ten day deadline, it would make the prosecution that much weaker.

This DA is clearly a wacko who's in over his head. Better to move the case to ABQ
where DA Brandenberg will certainly kick the ball out of bounds and Luke will be released.

If someone in the spite of rage or just plain stupidity approached my vehicle to assault me, by breaking my vehicle's window and attempted to drag me out of my personal vehicle, I would of done the same thing as Luke Sanchez, fired only once upon accuracy in the subject's head. Why all the hoop-la with the DA of Belen?...he needs to come to terms why he is an appointed attorney.....this really is a travesty of justice against Luke Sanchez...shame on you, DA, from Belen...

I am sure he is going to deny robbing the place and say that his friend was gunned down in cold blood.

Typical corrupt incestual,neptotistic craven venal NM politics. They have had this state for 300 yrs and apparently done nothing with it.

Oh Yea! Get the "real" scoop from the other thief/cohort of the dead thief! He'll tell the truth! Who thinks of these things - It's like watching "Reno 911".

If New Mexico law enforcement put half as much effort into busting predatory criminals as they do into victimizing people who use force to defend themselves this would be a much safer state to live in. This guy deserves a medal not an arrest record. Oh well... Its our own fault. We elect the left wing legislators who make the laws that protect scum and hurt innocents. Then we elect the idiot D.A.s who persecute law abiding citizens. Then we elect the liberal judges who hand down weak sentences to murderers while destroying the lives of people who did nothing wrong. They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. From what I've seen New Mexico's well intentioned road to Hell is nothing less than the autobahn.

This who case has struck a raw nerve for me honestly!! What really needs to happen in this case is the morally and ethically right action under law of someone who tried to uphold the ideals of being a good citizen. "I thought New Mexico's existing laws honor the sanctity of human life and the right of our citizens to defend themselves and others from harm? Could this not be seen as Luke Sanchez being unjustly prosecuted for defending himself? He was not the aggressor the offender was! Mr. Sanchez did not flee the scene where incident took place, as he thought the law would see his right to protect himself from harm, and he did what he had to.

People die from carjackings, and he 'the offender could have been attempting to kidnap member and take to mesa to get rid of the witness. It common that people taken from the scene of a crime often end up losing their life. By Mr. Sanchez defending himself this may be the reason he is alive??

If the person "reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other person's unlawful entry of or attack on the person's while in motor vehicle which under New Mexico Law is an extension of your home." There are consequnces to criminal actions brought to the offender by his own action! If someone jumps on purpose in front of a car and get's hit and killed is it the driver's fault under law? I think not.

What message does this send to those being victimized? Allow yourself to be beat and if you survive call us for action? Just reading all the stories and comments shows the mixed signals that are being communicated to valencia citizens by a criminal justice system that seems to have forgotten the victims in the big picture. Where is the protection of their rights?

I myself will not stand and be slaughted by the wolves who run in packs - I will a fight and defend myself by the law which I have supported and defended for over 30 years - which as far as I know allows me to protect myself, my loved ones from harm. It's truly sad when the scales of justice seem to be shifting to offenders! Let's do what's right send a message to those committing crimes that sometimes there is a higher cost than you may expect or want so don't do it your choice!

Lets hear what the burglar who fled leaving his buddy burglar Gabaldon there to die has to say. The DA is intelligent. He already said on camera "It is hard to get the story from a dead man", meaning Gabaldon. Maybe this burglar knows enough to tell the truth and exonerate Mr. Sanchez. It would be a bad move on his part to tell a contradictory story with inconsistencies. The people are behind Mr. Sanchez. He will be exonerated and freed by the truth one way or the other. If thief number two lies to the DA, he will get more time as his lies will make the DA look inept and that is like tugging on Superman's cape. Prosecutors are powerful friends and powerful enemies. The truth is an accurate report of what really happened, in case the definition has been forgotten. Leave Sanchez alone.

He will NEVER be convicted. Obviously this is a case of self defense.

The other guy is now in custody and the DA is happy because he wants his side of the story. Does he actually expect this criminal to tell the truth? Of course he will probably lie, he's a thief, he doesn't care about doing the right thing. Why haven't the 911 tapes been released yet? The DA can still review them after they have been released. Why are they still holding them so nobody else can hear them? Something about that seems very very wrong. What is the DA doing to them? People should be asking the DA questions about that.

KOB, quite using FORMER MARINE. Sanchez served his coutry as a Marine, not a bugular. Labels have nothing to do with the case. Just because this country conmitted sucide on November 4, 2008 doen't mean we will let criminals run this country.

I mean quit, not quite

BDC wrote:

The other guy is now in custody and the DA is happy because he wants his side of the story. Does he actually expect this criminal to tell the truth? Of course he will probably lie, he's a thief, he doesn't care about doing the right thing. Why haven't the 911 tapes been released yet? The DA can still review them after they have been released. Why are they still holding them so nobody else can hear them? Something about that seems very very wrong. What is the DA doing to them? People should be asking the DA questions about that.

Are you so stupid that you think that's all the DAs office will base their case on ? The testimony of one person ? Sorry the way it works is they will look at the physical evidence (the gun the body and the bits of the body in the undercarriage of the truck ) and the statements of both witnesses . The case will be based on the inconsistency's of those three things . Has it stands there were enough inconstancy's in Sanchez's statement when compared to the evidence at the scene , other wise he would have never been arrested . Its amazing how clueless and simple minded you rural folks are.

A question for DA Martinez. If as you say Sanchez should not be judged until all the evidence is in, then using the same analogy why was he arrested and charged? This puts a financial burden on Mr. Sanchez and he will never recoup his loses. Being that he has no criminal record and has his family here, he does not appear to be a flight risk. I have no problem with your office investigating the shooting, but to charge someone before the evidence is in and analyzed, makes your office look over zealous in it's investigative determination. Given your relation to the dead perpetrator, I would expect that you would recuse yourself from direct participation of the investigation and it's legal course.

On a side note. This is directed to the apparently intellectually challenged coward that hide behind the click of a mouse button to express his point of view. If you are in such disagreement with those that have commented in favor of Mr. Sanchez innocents, then don't just use the mouse to click the judge it icon to summarily express your opinion. Step forward and express your opinion in words, so we can either agree or disagree with your point of view.

Heck - he should've stayed in jail. 10 days would not be near enough time for the DA to fabricate a case!!!

I don't understand why the DA wants to go after Luke Sanchez.
He wants to hear the story of criminal? What next, ask the KKK for advice on Race Relations? Doesn't make any sense. I didn't know the DA has the power of a King. He is making our state look bad and ruining a good mans life.

This man should have never been charged.How can you believe anything the thief has to say wheither it is good or bad?If he's a theif he is a liar as well. Had I been in his shoes I would have shot the bastard too.This man will never be convicted.

I hate to say it but this DA is making Kari Brandenburg look good which is really scary.He needs to wait more than 24 hours to offer a plea bargin, we all know she waits a little longer than that but always does offer it.

Belen is a small town I beleve this DA knows the gabaldons family very well One of these gabaldons was in politics before commisioner or somthing like that another ome works for the county. so there somthing there! and another one works for the city of belen.