No Bail No Bond for Accused Murder Dominic De La O

Judge John P. Sugg of New Mexico's Twelfth Judicial District Court ruled De La O be held in jail on “no bail or bond” at an arraignment hearing, on Monday July 31st, 2023, at the Otero County Courthouse in Alamogordo. 

AlamogordoTownNews.com Judge Sugg rules no bail no bond

Dominic De La O will remain behind bars for now. De La O pleaded not guilty to his charges.

Accused murderer Dominic De La O ordered held no bond at arraignment July 31, 2023 (AlamogordoTownNews.com)

He is accused of first-degree murder and a multitude of charges for the death of Officer Anthony Ferguson.

Judge Sugg said the trial will tentatively take place sometime between October and December 2024.

The Monday arraignment hearing was the result of an Otero County Grand Jury that returned true bills of indictment on 10 counts against Dominic De La O, in connection with the incident on July 15, 2023, which resulted in the death of Officer Anthony Ferguson of the Alamogordo Police Department.

True bills included one count of First-Degree Murder (Willful & Deliberate) a capital felony; Tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, a fourth-degree felony; two counts of Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, fourth-degree felonies; two counts of Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer, both misdemeanors; two counts of Criminal Trespass, both misdemeanors; and Improper Equipment – Driving a Vehicle at night without Lighted Lamps.

Although De La O has been held in custody on a separate case, following this indictment, District Attorney Key filed an Expedited Motion for Pretrial Detention. Similar to a motion filed by the State in October 2022, DA Key is requesting that De La O be held in custody pending trial. In the Expedited Motion, Key cited De La O’s criminal history, argued that he continues to be a danger to the community, and petitioned the court to make a finding that no conditions of release will adequately protect the community.

The arrangement hearing lasted a little over 30 minutes led with testimony by a representative of the New Mexico State Police.  The dialog  and testimony was led with  questions by the New Mexico Twelfth District, District Attorney, Scot Key whose district encompasses Lincoln and Otero Counties. 

There was a heavy police presence in the courtroom and around the courthouse for the Monday morning hearing. The defendant Dominic De La O was wheeled into the courtroom in a wheelchair, remained in cuffs but stood before the judge at the beginning.  At the end of the hearing he stood late, as the judge exited and shook his attorney’s hand, after a brief moment of conversation. 

The Alamogordo community continues to mourn and was shaken by the death of decorated Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson. 

In related news, July 29th, the Alamogordo City Commission revealed a resolution in special session which asked the state and judiciary to review the process around bond and release of what many have described as a broken system…

City of Alamogordo

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