Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 96 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Bombing suspect not yet charged The administration has indicated it intends to move quickly to build a criminal case against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. But investigators plan to first question him without informing him of his legal rights to remain silent and have an attorney present.
DENVER (AP) — Dust blown in from the Southwest settled on snow over many of Colorado’s mountains during last week’s storm and will eventually affect how fast the snowpack melts and possibly how much water the state can hold onto. Researchers say the dust kicked up from Arizona, New Mexico and Utah by southwesterly winds - PAGE B7
SUNDAY
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has a range of legal options in the Boston Marathon bombings, and they could include seeking the death penalty against the 19-year -old suspect in the case.
DIRTY SNOW
April 21, 2013
Several Republican lawmakers on Saturday criticized the administration’s approach because they said it would afford Tsarnaev more rights than he deserves. The federal public defender for Massachusetts called for the quick appointment of a lawyer to represent Tsarnaev because of serious issues
involving his interrogation in the absence of a lawyer. As a U.S. citizen, Tsarnaev could not be tried by a military commission under current law; the only option for prosecuting an American is in civilian courts. A federal official with knowledge of the case said Tsarnaev was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in September 2012. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about details of the case and requested anonymity. Tsar naev was under ar med guard at a Boston hospital and was reported in serious condition and unable to be interrogated Saturday. He has yet to be charged but prosecutors appear to have no shortage of federal laws at their disposal. The most serious charge would be the use of a weapon of mass destruction to kill people, which
carries a possible death sentence. Three people died in the twin explosions in Boston and more than 180 were injured. Massachusetts does not have the death penalty, and it remains to be seen whether the administration would try to persuade a jury to sentence Tsarnaev to death. The state could try to bring charges against him, including for the death of Sean Collier, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer who authorities say was killed by Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan. An early question that arose after Tsarnaev’s capture on Friday was how to conduct his initial interrogation. The administration said it would not immediately inform him of legal See BOSTON, Page A3
WEB
Those who had finished the walk waited near the Cahoon
SANTA FE (AP) — The New Mexico attorney general’s office is going after some of the nation’s largest banks for what it describes as deceptive marketing of protection plans for credit-card holders. Separate complaints filed this week in state district court claim that several banks are violating the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act by charging cardholders about $100 a year for ancillary products that are often useless. Under the practice known as “slamming,” telemarketers call cardholders ostensibly to thank them and remind them of benefits they already have, then, according to the complaints, “speed through, skip altogether or alter the text of the information they are required to provide.” “Although the cardholder believes they have just listened to a courtesy call, (the banks) treat any affirmative response as the cardholder’s agreement to enroll in the ancillary plan,” the complaints allege. Prosecutors contend that no effort is made to determine if the consumers are eligible for the benefits associated with the protection plans. For example, elderly customers are often targeted for plans that propose to suspend payment obligations if a customer loses his job, even though elderly customers on fixed
See WALK, Page A3
See BANKS, Page A3
For The Past 24 Hours
• Dexter High kids get brutal lesson • James M. Hudson takes 5th District ... • Hispano Chamber president Romo ... • Hospice more than ‘end of life care’ • Engelhard inks with Adams State Grizzlies
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Participants in the Walk for Multiple Sclerosis begin their trek at Cahoon Park, Saturday morning, during the annual fund raising which is nearing its goal of $20,000 in donations. Students from Roswell Job Corps were on hand to provide valuable assistance.
100 caring souls raise funds for MS JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
NEW YORK (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points, and the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 85-78 on Saturday in their playoff opener. After knocking the Celtics from the top of the Atlantic Division, the Knicks took the first step to knocking them out of the playoffs by holding Boston to three baskets and eight points ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • David Arthur Bidwell • William Roberts II • Jacqueline Campos • Clara Foster • Leo Fajardo Jr. • Troy Alexander Green • Estella Gibson - PAGE B6, B7
HIGH ...87˚ LOW ....49˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
During a vigil for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, in Watertown, Mass., Saturday.
AG goes after banks for ‘slamming’
TOP 5
KNICKS DEFEAT CELTICS
AP Photo
Cahoon Park’s grounds provided a welcoming path as the sun delivered perfect weather for the nearly 100 participants
who walked, jogged and ran three miles Saturday in the fourth annual Walk for Multiple Sclerosis. “I think it’s a great cause,” said one participant, Janet Visser, whose aunt died from
MS and has two friends who suffer from it. “Hopefully someday they’ll find a cure.”
Cool, man; area keglers spare no effort to help BBBS AMY VOGELSANG RECORD STAFF WRITER
Tye-dyed T -shirts, long hair and peace signs were intermingled in the crowded bowling alley as many locals showed up to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern New Mexico at the annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Saturday at City Center Lanes. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a national non-profit organization started in 1977 when a Ladies of Charity group called Catholic Big Sisters joined with the Big Brothers movement started in 1904. The organization strives to provide caring
role models to children. “It’s all about kids and adults who like kids or want to be kids,” said match supervisor Stacy Heacox. To enliven the “free spirited” event further, there is usually a time theme. Last year was the 1980s, and this year was the 1970s. “People seem to enjoy having a theme,” Heacox said. It brings out the inner child of every adult. Various teams bowled during a two-hour block either from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. One of the morning teams was a group of coworkers from Xcel Energy.
“(The best part is) coming out and seeing everyone have a good time for a good cause,” said Xcel employee Casey Huber. He and his team were just out to have fun and support the program. These events are the “bread and butter” of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Heacox said. “(It’s great) seeing people are willing to step up and support us,” she said. Along with a fun afternoon of bowling, there was a 70s costume contest, a raffle drawing and a prize for whoever could raise the most money. These events take volunteers to sponsor, and Hea-
Mark Wilson Photo
Frm left: Dale Joseph, Erik Shepherd and Alex Bennett get ready for the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2013, Saturday, at City Center Lanes.
cox said they are always in need of people “willing to step up to plate” to become
big brother or sister volunteers, event sponsors or donors.
Johnson relates shop break-in; refuses to cower to burglar JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
CLASSIFIEDS..........D1 COMICS.................C5 ENTERTAINMENT.....D6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........D6 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................C6 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD .................A7
INDEX
Jill McLaughlin Photo
Patty Johnson, co-owner of Barringer’s Blossom Shop and Johnson Jewelers, shows off the new metal gate on the shop’s back door.
Patty Johnson was taking care of paperwork on a Sunday night in March in the back office of her shop as she often had. She was also chatting with her daughter on the cell phone. The crash of glass and the sound of the back door slamming open surprised her. She didn’t think about her gun inside the desk drawer. Her first thought was to rush down the dark hallway toward the noise. Standing before her was a husky man in a loose-fit-
ting top. Johnson said she wasn’t about to back down. She wasn’t about to crawl under her desk and hide. Instead she ran screaming at the intruder to “get out!” she said, alerting him that she had a gun and she was calling the police. The burglar dropped a second brick, possibly meant to be used to break into the shop’s jewelry case, and ran out another door. “That man thought he had an opportunity,” Johnson said. “I don’t want to kill somebody, but next
time I’m not gonna lay down and take it. I’m not gonna cower. I’m not gonna do that.” Johnson, co-owner of Barringer’s Blossom Shop and Jewelry on North Main Street, is certified to carry a concealed weapon and has taken a safety course. Her father taught her to stand up and face problems and “deal with them,” she said. “I’m going to fight back from that,” Johnson said. “You can’t take something just because you want it. You have to work for it. See BREAK-IN, Page A3