Investigator Criticizes Sheriff on “Rust”

Former state investigator criticizes sheriff on Rust

New court filings in the criminal case against the Rust movie-set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed spotlight tensions between the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors in the lagging judicial process following the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Gutierrez-Reed is the only person facing criminal charges in the case, following the April dismissal of charges against Alec Baldwin and an earlier plea deal with assistant director Dave Halls. Yesterday, prosecutors filed a new charge alleging Gutierrez-Reed transferred narcotics to another person on the day of the shooting. Her attorneys also asked a First District Court judge to dismiss the case because of a bombshell email indicating the existence of potential exculpatory evidence not made available to the defense. Robert Shilling, a former State Police chief who formerly served as an investigator on the case, lambasted the sheriff’s handling of it earlier this week in an email to prosecutors—and he sent a copy to Jason Bowles, the defense attorney for Guiterrez-Reed. “The conduct of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office during and after their initial investigation is reprehensible and unprofessional to a degree I still have no words for,” Shilling wrote. “Not I or 200 more proficient investigators than I can/could clean up the mess delivered to your office in October 2022 (1 year since the initial incident…inexcusable).” When the New York Times asked Shilling to elaborate on the email, he replied that he was bound by a nondisclosure agreement. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has turned the case over the special prosecutor Kari Morrisey, who issued a statement to the Times, noting, “We disagree with Mr. Shilling’s evaluation that any gaps in the investigation conducted by the Santa Fe County Sheriff could not be cured and we are diligently working with the sheriff’s department and our own investigative team to conduct any necessary follow-up that we, as special prosecutors, deem necessary.”

Environment department prepares for regulation lapse

The New Mexico Environment department has warned industries and cities holding discharge permits under the Clean Water Act that the state might take action in the absence of federal regulations. Environment Secretary James Kenney said the notice was issued yesterday because of the possible implications of the recent US Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA, which removed certain wetlands from federal protection. The notice is “intended to protect New Mexico’s water by alerting such permittees of important state laws and their requirements if the federally issued discharge no longer applies,” reads a statement from the department. With approximately 3,950 active federal discharge permits in the state, including over 3,600 stormwater discharge permits and 350 industrial, feed lot or other types of discharge permits, New Mexico laws may soon apply. “While regulatory questions may abound as a result the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, science and New Mexico law dictate that New Mexico must increase its protections of our limited and precious water supply,” Kenney said. In the coming months, the department will be watching for the Environmental Protection Agency to further clarify the regulatory framework resulting from the Sackett decision.

State workers stick around

State workers who were feared to make a mass exodus in the wake of a mandate to return to the office after COVID-19 remote working have remained on the job at higher rates in the first two quarters of 2023 than the same period the prior year, The Albuquerque Journal reports. As of this week, 1,143 classified state workers had voluntarily left their jobs so far this year, compared to 1,464 employees leaving during the same time period last year, State Personnel Director Teresa Padilla told the Journal. “In general, we believe our state government employees understand the benefits of being present in the office to serve our customers and constituents,” Padilla said. Labor union leaders told the paper that salary increases and other factors led to a better scenario than many had predicted. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered an end to most remote working early this year and her administration is moving ahead with plans to build a new office complex in downtown Santa Fe. Still, the statewide vacancy rate for classified employees is averaging 23.9% for the current budget year, according to State Personnel Office data provided to the Journal. Apply for a state job here.

PRC plans private meetings

Open government advocates oppose a new plan by the Public Regulation Commission to hold more meetings behind closed doors. In a letter to the PRC yesterday, the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government addressed an unanimous vote during the commission’s Wednesday meeting changing the schedule of public meetings. Commissioner Gabriel Aguilera argued the commission needed more time to consider issues and work with staff and that closed-door meetings would allow the commission to “streamline the open meetings with improved processes and clear expectations.” But the move will violate the provisions of the state Open Meetings Act, says FOG Executive Director Melanie Majors, whose letter reads in part: “FOG strongly urges the commission to reconsider and adopt a resolution opening all the meetings, and we know from experience it can be done. FOG believes any attempt to engage in a public decision-making process without including the public is a violation of the public’s trust.”

Listen up

What happens when an academic researcher partners with a producer? A one-act play that brings part of a dissertation to life. New Mexico Historian Timothy E. Nelson, who holds a Phd from New Mexico State University, explores the AfroFrontierist town of Blackdom including the Blackdom Oil Company, which struck oil in the Permian Basin just 20 years after the town was founded in 1903. Nelson presents a readings of the play, Finding Blackdom—Mittie of South Virginia Street, produced with co-researcher Marissa Roybal, at Teatro Paraguas at 7 pm tonight and through the weekend (7 pm Saturday, June 24; 2 pm Sunday, June 25). He spoke with SFR this week in advance of the shows. For a preview of his work, here’s a presentation from last year with the Santa Fe Public Library.

Be well

Easterners have known about New Mexico’s healing qualities since the 1880s outbreak of tuberculosis and their search for a cure in Southwest sanatoriums like the one now owned downtown by the Drury Inn at Marian Hall. But Forbes magazine is now in on the secret with a new piece about “Why New Mexico Is The Most Underrated State For Wellness.” “While wellness destinations tend to hone in on a particular market of wellness—such as adventure travel, fitness retreats or spiritual mysticism—New Mexico is unique for its vast range of wellness offerings. You can find spiritual enlightenment in a monastery, unwind next to locals in a breathwork class and get pampered at a five-star wellness resort, all in the same week,” Forbes writes. Among the recommendations are Ojo Santa Fe’s therapeutic pools and “forest bathing” along with soaking at Ten Thousand Waves, natch, plus peaceful (and, if you’re into it, prayerful) retreats in private rooms and hermitages with kitchens at the Pecos Monastery and the high desert scenery at Christ in the Desert Monastery.

Pride on parade

Tomorrow marks the official 30th Pride celebration sponsored by the Human Rights Alliance in Santa Fe. Marchers and floats gather at the Lamy Building for a 10:30 am departure. The parade will move along Old Santa Fe Trail to the jog at Water Street, continuing on to the Plaza at San Francisco Street and Lincoln Avenue. Pride on the Plaza goes on from 10 am to 4 pm, with entertainment on the Bandstand from Ultra Naté for a daylong dance party. Booths from vendors and community organizations also line Lincoln and Palace avenues. (See the map here.) Later in the day, Burro Alley lights up for a 21+ block party from 1pm to 6 pm featuring RMX#13, DJ Litespeed and DJ Sato. Then, drink a couple shots of espresso and head over to Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery for Pride After Dark from 8:30 pm to 1 am for the Pride 30 Drag review and, you guessed it, more DJs! The Jean Cocteau Cinema also plans a KINGdom SF Pride Drag King Show at 7 pm. Then, Sunday morning, there’s Drag Brunch 505 at La Posada. And in case you want just one more chance to fly the flag, Tumbleroot also hosts After Burn from 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday. Find more related events on SFR’s Pride calendar.

It’s getting hot in herre

The National Weather Service forecasts another bright day with a high temperature near 88 and breezy conditions that could turn into windy ones by nightfall with gusts as high as 40 mph. Most of the state is under a red flag warning today.

Thanks for reading! The (substitute) Word loves Shel Silverstein cartoons above most others and can’t wait to see what artists in this year’s SFR Illustrator’s Cup turn up. Winners earn prizes of local food and drink gift cards; entry fees support local journalism. The deadline to enter is midnight Sunday.