Drugs Seized After Gas Theft

By John Larson

SOCORRO – Not paying for $48.59 in gas at a Socorro Conoco station resulted in the arrest of a female juvenile and Belen man Monday, Oct. 11.
Joseph Sandoval, 35, was charged on two felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, one felony count of possession of methamphetamine, one felony count of conspiracy, one count of theft, and the petty misdemeanor of concealing his identity.
According to the criminal complaint, police were notified at 5:30 p.m. that a gas skip had occurred at the Conoco on South California. A witness said the gas pump nozzle had been laid on the ground to prevent a beep from sounding inside, notifying the cashier.
A description of the green and white Chevy pickup was given, as well as a description of the two occupants, and that the suspects were headed south.
The vehicle was spotted by Detective Rocky Fernandez on Interstate 25 at the 142 mile marker and pulled over. City police Lt. Louie Chavez and Sgt. Gilbert Padilla joined Fernandez in the questioning of the two occupants.
The complaint said both the driver and the female passenger – neither of whom could provide identification - gave police false names.
The female passenger initially told police she was 22 years old, but an ID found during a subsequent search of the pickup revealed her true name and that she was a juvenile, the complaint said.
The driver gave his name to police as ‘Jesse’ Sandoval.
In a further search of the vehicle, officers turned up a set of blank keys with several patterns used to steal vehicles, an amount of methamphetamine, and two pipes commonly used to smoke meth.
After Sandoval and the female juvenile were arrested, it was discovered that the juvenile had outstanding warrants in Valencia County. Fernandez contacted the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office, who arranged detention for her in Santa Fe.
Sandoval, incarcerated at the Socorro County Detention Center, was correctly identified as ‘Joseph’ Sandoval two days later. The charge of concealing his identity was added at that time.
Preliminary hearing for Sandoval is set for Oct. 27 in Magistrate Court.

Drugs Seized After Gas Theft