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The Doña Ana District Attorney’s Office has announced that a person responsible for a fatal DWI related crash in 2024 will serve seven years in prison.
On February 29, 2024, Roy Parra was riding his bicycle down Lohman Ave. when he was struck by Emily Portillo. Portillo was driving at a high rate of speed and was under the influence of cannabis and alcohol.
Perra died due to his injuries.
The District Attorney’s Office requested a 15-year sentence. Judge Richard M. Jacquez imposed a 10-year sentence, with seven years to be served in custody and three years suspended.
Senior Trial Attorney Richard Wellborn praised the ruling, saying that “We hope this sentence sends a clear and strong message to all New Mexicans: drinking and driving has serious consequences.”
U.S. District Attorney Fernando Macias also praised the outcome but said, “New Mexico continues to face a troubling rise in DWI-related deaths.”
“The public needs to know that we will pursue incarceration for any impaired driver,” Macias said.
According to a study by the University of New Mexico, the state had 149 fatal alcohol-involved deaths in 2023 with Doña Ana County having seven that year.
The American Addiction Center ranks New Mexico as being the fourth highest state for most alcohol-involved crash fatalities per 100,000 people.
