"A man threatens New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez"
A New Mexico man found himself standing before a judge and answering questions about why he decided to threaten and harass New Mexico's governor, Susana Martinez. Gadi Schwartz and Joe Vigil, of KOB Eyewitness News 4, stated in their article "Governor speaks out about threats calling them 'vulgar'" that James Sanchez made several threatening and harassing phone calls to the governor's office. Schwartz and Vigil reported that Sanchez, who is also a Vietnam veteran, was not too please with the sight of cows roaming freely on public land. Nico Roesler, of the Sante Fe New Mexican, reported in his article "Man held after alleged threats against governor" that Sanchez made a political ad accusing the governor of supporting rich ranchers who did not keep their cows secured within a closed location. As a result, the cows wandered into residential areas and some wandered onto Sanchez's property. And Sanchez decided that he would use some fiery language in order to put some pep in the governor's step. Schwartz and Vigil reported that Sanchez informed Governor Martinez that he fought in Vietnam and his mission was to get rid of "evil" human beings like her. Schwartz and Vigil quoted Sanchez as saying, "I was in Vietnam, I killed children, I killed babies but my mission was not so much (inaudible) to help you people, I fed a bunch of your people, but my mission is to take evil out of the world and you are evil." Sanchez then went on to taunt the governor and dare her to send the state police after him. Schwartz and Vigil quoted him as saying, "You mother (expletive), I know where you live (expletive). You send the state police after me? (Expletive), you better sleep with one eye open mother (expletive)…cause we are coming to see you." Well, Sanchez never did make it to see the governor. However, the police did come to see him.
Sanchez tried easing any concerns the police had about his ability to make good on his alleged threats. According to Schwartz and Vigil, Sanchez denied owning a gun. He also stated that the police was making the situation bigger than it was. According to Roesler, Sanchez's attorney, Thomas Esquibel, stated that Sanchez was just trying to keep his family, who travels on his private road, safe from the wandering herd of cows. Unfortunately for Sanchez, the common "get out of jail" excuses about protecting one's family and property did not work. Further, these common "get out of jail" excuses do not work when there is a pattern of alleged criminal behavior.
According to Roesler, this is not Sanchez's first time in trouble. In fact, Roesler stated that the Socorro County Magistrate court records show that Sanchez has been charged with four felonies along with aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal damage to property. However, Sanchez does not see any wrong he is alleged to have done. From his perspective, Governor Martinez is the problem. He sees her as a bad representation of the people of New Mexico. Sanchez made this clear with his displeasement of the language Governor Martinez used during her speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC).
The transcript of Governor Martinez's speech at the Republican National Convention is posted on Fox News' website. The governor used the word damn during her speech, explaining how she and her husband, Chuck, switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Based on Fox News' transcript of the governor's speech, the Governor said, "But we talked about issues-they never used the words Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. We talked about many issues, like welfare, is it the way of life or hand up? Talked about size of government, how much should it tax families and small businesses? And when we left that lunch, we got in the car and I looked over at Chuck and said, 'I'll be damned. We're Republicans.'" Although damn was the only curse word the governor used, Sanchez saw the word as a litany of curse words. To Sanchez, the governor's one curse word was equal to several curse words. Schwartz and Vigil quoted Sanchez as saying, "I was watching the convention and she starts swearing like a drunken sailor on national TV. My grandson said, 'That lady said a bad word.' And I told him that's no lady, that is the wicked witch of the west."
Apparently, Sanchez's dislike of the governor has been going on since April of this year. Roesler noted that Sanchez was arrested, in April 2012, because of harassing calls he has made to the Governor's Office of Constituent Services. Upon his release, Sanchez was told that if he behaved in that manner again then he would be arrested again. Sanchez didn't pay any attention to the court's order and decided to contact the governor on the night of the governor's RNC speech. According to Roesler, Sanchez left two messages on the governor's voicemail. Sanchez's lawyer stated that his client has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, the revelation that Sanchez may be psychologically sick, due to no fault of his own, did not cause the assistant district attorney or the judge to show any leniency.
Roesler quoted Assistant District Attorney Kent Wahlquist as saying, "You already asked him not to do this anymore and he was unable to follow the court's orders." Schwartz and Vigil stated that the judge decided that Sanchez would have to come up with a $100,000 cash only bond or remain in jail. Although Governor Martinez says that Sanchez's behavior is troublesome and he needs to be held accountable, she also says that it is something she just brushes off of her shoulders. Schwartz and Vigil quoted her as saying, "He rambles. He threatens. It rolls of my back." According to Schwartz and Vigil, Governor Martinez also stated that she has never talked to Sanchez. Due to the fact that Sanchez hasn't come up with the money, he continues to sit in jail. According to Roesler, Judge Segura has set a jury selection date for October 10, 2012.
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