Serving the High Plains

Two local men charged in the death of Anthony Gallegos

Quay County Under Sheriff Dennis Garcia aids the New Mexico State Police Investigators at the scene of Gallegos' death.

QCS Senior Writer

Two local men have been charged with murder in connection with the slaying of Anthony Gallegos.

Gallegos was found dead on June 22 in an alley on the 700 block of Sunset Avenue in Tucumcari.

Timothy Skinner and Jerry Ingram on Wednesday were formally charged with Gallegos’ death, said Tim Rose 10th Judicial district attorney.

Rose said a third person, Dominic Aragon, faces lesser charges in connection with the case.

Rose said a grand jury on Tuesday determined there was enough evidence to charge the three men.

Rose said after the grand jury concluded, "they handed down their findings and our office is required by law to file an indictment within 24 hours."

The charges filed and possible sentence for each crime are as follows:

• Skinner, 21, first-degree murder, capital crime, life sentence; bribery of a witness, fourth-degree felony, nine years; tampering with evidence, third-degree felony, three years; abuse of a child, third-degree felony, three years; aggravated battery causing great bodily harm third-degree felony, three years; shooting from or at a motor vehicle, fourth-degree felony, 18 months; aggravated assault with deadly weapon, fourth-degree felony, 18 months.

• Ingram, 20, second-degree murder, second-degree felony, 15 years; bribery of a witness, fourth-degree felony, nine years; tampering with evidence, third-degree felony, three years; abuse of a child, third degree felony, three years; aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, third-degree felony, three years.

• Aragon, 18, bribery of a witness, fourth-degree felony, nine years; tampering with evidence, third-degree felony, three years; abuse of a child, third-degree felony, three years; aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, third-degree felony, three years.

Rose said each of the defendants was notified of the grand jury proceedings and obtained legal counsel. He said two of the individuals, Skinner and Ingram, were already in custody on unrelated charges while Aragon has not been arrested. Warrants will be issued within the next few days and served to all three of the individuals, according to Rose.

Rose said this was the first grand jury to be held in Quay County in 12 years. He said typically the District Attorney's Office goes through the preliminary hearing process.

Rose said in this process evidence is presented to a magistrate judge, who then determines if there is sufficient probable cause to proceed. He said it is a completely different process with the grand jury. The grand jury is an investigative body, which can determine probable cause, has the power to determine who is charged; the grand jury can subpoena witnesses and documents it believes are crucial to the case.

Rose said the grand jury is a sealed process and no testimony or documentation from the proceedings is open to the public.

 
 
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