Serving the High Plains

Former officer pleads not guilty to arson charges

QCS Staff

Dustin “Dusty” Lopez, a former Tucumcari police officer facing felony arson charges, entered a not-guilty plea to the charges on Monday before District Judge Albert Mitchell in Tucumcari.

Co-defendant Robert Sandoval of Tucumcari also entered a not-guilty plea, Mitchell said.

Mitchell said both defendants were ordered to continue to wear GPS ankle bracelets, honor a curfew of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and have no contact with any witnesses, first responders or co-defendants.

Another co-defendant, Dani J. Martinez, will be arraigned later, said Matt Chandler, special prosecutor for the case.

Chandler filed two additional charges of breaking and entering against Lopez and Sandoval on Dec. 3 in Quay County Magistrate Court before the cases were bound over to district court.

All three are free on bond, Chandler said.

Court records show Martinez was freed on an unsecured appearance bond of $50,000.

Terms of her bond show she is not to associate with the other parties in the investigation, must remain on curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and must not use social media or a cell phone, according to orders from Quay County Magistrate Judge Joel Garnett.

Lopez, Martinez and Sandoval were charged on Oct. 28 with arson and conspiracy to commit arson.

All three are charged in connection with fires in the early morning of Sept. 3 that destroyed the abandoned Payless Inn, 200 E. Route 66 Blvd. in Tucumcari, and an abandoned house at 524 N. Fourth St. in Tucumcari.

The fires were reported within an hour of each other, former Tucumcari Fire Chief Larry Rigdon said.

The three buildings on the Payless Inn property, all of which were destroyed in the blaze, were valued at $155,155.

Lopez resigned from the Tucumcari Police Department on Oct. 2, the day after New Mexico State Police searched his home. Lopez did not give a reason for his decision to resign, said Tucumcari Police Chief Jason Braziel.

State police received information there was evidence on Lopez’s cell phone connecting him and four others with a series of arson fires set in Tucumcari in September.

Only Lopez, Martinez and Sandoval, however, have been charged, Chandler said.