Former UNM Athletic Director Found Not Guilty, $485M Foster Care Abuse Jury Award & Redistricting Lawsuits

New Mexico in Focus (A Production of NMPBS)

NMiF Senior Producer Lou DiVizio opens the show with headlines from around the state, including perspective from a New Mexico community downwind from the nuclear testing site in the southern New Mexico desert, after the release of the Hollywood blockbuster 'Oppenheimer.' Then, Lou catches up with Daniel Libit, an investigative and enterprise reporter for Sportico, who’s been following the criminal case against former UNM athletic director Paul Krebs. This interview was recorded Wednesday (7.19.23). A jury Friday found Paul Krebs not guilty on two felony counts of embezzlement. Lou asks why this case rose to the level of criminal charges when so many other collegiate scandals don’t. And the two discuss how this trial could impact the secretive nature within many universities.

Gene Grant discusses the recent $485 million jury award on behalf of an 8-year-old girl. The lawsuit, first filed in 2019, alleges a non-profit company called Familyworks, licensed by the state Children, Youth and Families Department, placed the girl in the care of Clarence Garcia, who allegedly raped her repeatedly. The lawsuit also alleges Familyworks knew about prior accusations of sexual assault against Garcia. Gene asks the panel how something like this was allowed to happen — and if the state should carry any responsibility.

A recent ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court could set the stage for changes to political redistricting in the state. The justices weighed in on a lawsuit brought by the state Republican Party and others challenging the new congressional districts drawn by the Democrat-controlled state Legislature. But the decision could impact another case too — a lawsuit brought by the Navajo Nation, alleging San Juan County Commissioners packed Native American voters into a single district. New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Gwyneth Doland caught up with two people familiar with these cases to ask what impact the outcomes could have on future elections.

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segment 1:

Former UNM Athletic Director on Trial
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio
Guest:

Daniel Libit, investigative & enterprise reporter, Sportico

Segment 2: $485M Foster Care Abuse Jury Award

Correspondent: Gene Grant

Guests:

Ed Williams, Searchlight New Mexico

Carol Suzuki, professor of law, University of New Mexico

Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations

Segment 3:

Redistricting Lawsuits Move Forward After NM Supreme Court Decision

Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland
Guests:

Hannah Burling, project leader for Fair Districts NM, Co-Pres. of the League of Women Voters

Leonard Gorman, executive director, Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission

For More Information: Former University of New Mexico athletic director found not guilty of embezzlement charges - Associated Press BOOSTER GOLF TRIP PUTS EX-COLLEGE AD ON TRIAL IN RARE PROSECUTION – Sportico

Foster child sexual assault results in $485 million jury award – Albuquerque Journal

Experts say girl awarded $485M in sex abuse suit likely to face long court fight – Santa Fe New Mexican

Trapped: Foster children are caught in a cycle of abuse – Searchlight New Mexico

Homeless Shelters Aren’t Equipped to Deal With New Mexico’s Most Troubled Foster Kids. Police See It for Themselves. – Searchlight New Mexico

These Foster Kids Need Mental Health Care. New Mexico Is Putting Them in Homeless Shelters. – Searchlight New Mexico

New Mexico Struggles to Follow Through on Promises to Reform Child Welfare System – Searchlight New Mexico

Ten-year-old foster child allegedly sexually assaulted by foster teen at CYFD office building in Albuquerque – Searchlight New Mexico

New Mexico Supreme Court says lower court can decide gerrymandering issue – KRQE

Lawsuit alleges San Juan County's new district map violates Voting Rights Act – Farmington Daily Times

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