October 16, 2025 — Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced that 86-year-old Ronald Clark Wilson is being held without bond after being charged with Murder in the Second Degree [attempt]. The arrest stemming from a Domestic Violence incident on October 2, 2025

Sixth Judicial Chief Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Clark and Deputy District Attorney Joseph Patrick Silva represented the State during the hearing. The presiding judge was the Honorable Judge Tom F. Stewart of the Sixth Judicial District Court.

On October 2, 2025, the Grant County Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call from Ronald Clark Wilson, who stated he had "just shot his wife." Upon law enforcements' arrival, they found Wilson standing outside of the home and he was taken into custody without further incident. He informed deputies that ongoing tensions with his wife had escalated. On this day, he stated that his wife had become upset with another individual at the local senior center. After the couple returned home, she went to take a nap in the bedroom.

On October 16, 2025, at 8:24 a.m., a Silver City Police Sergeant was approached by two females on the median of Highway 90, intersection to Ridge Road. During their interaction, the SCPD Sergeant received information about an unwanted subject (friend) that was at her residence on Broken Bow Road (Grant County). She told the Sergeant that a disturbance had occurred, and money was missing ($6,000.00) and she wanted him removed from her residence. The female identified her boyfriend as Christopher Hernandez and provided the Sergeant with a vehicle description (white Chrysler 300). The female advised that he had an active arrest warrant from the Department of Corrections in the State of Arizona. The Sergeant relayed this information to SCPD patrol officers on duty and was in the process of contacting the Grant County Sheriff's Office to advise them of the situation.

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting September 25, 2025. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza and Trustees, Olga Amador, Peter Erickson and Ralph Trujillo attended.

The council approved the agenda, past meeting minutes and department head reports. They did change the order of the agenda moving the closed session.

Mayor's report

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held a public hearing September 24, 2025.

This public hearing had been called to discuss a possible land variance to reduce the current requirements for lot size and manufactured housing unit size. The location zoned community commercial will establish an area for an affordable housing development. This public hearing had been published and posted to be in compliance with the open meetings law. Yvonne Gonzales, village attorney, presented proof of the postings and she also proved notice to the property owners with abutters five business days before the hearing. These will be the people most affected by this change. They had eight landowners they contacted. Some with abutters had been village property. Five owners accepted the certified letter, and she named those individuals. Two property owners had not picked up the certified letter. All prerequisites had been accomplished.

Zachariah Matias Porter

October 14, 2025 — Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced that 24-year-old Zachariah Matias Porter is being held without bond after being charged with Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member [Strangulation or Suffocation], Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle [No great Bodily Harm] and Tampering with Evidence. The arrest stemming from a Domestic Violence incident on September 27, 2025.

Sixth Judicial Deputy District Attorney Dave Arnone represented the State during the hearing. The presiding judge was the Honorable Judge Jennifer DeLaney of the Sixth Judicial District Court. Judge Delaney granted the State's Motion for Pretrial Detention, determining that PORTER poses a danger to both the victim and the community.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting September 23, 2025. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, and Councilors Nicholas Prince, Rudy Bencomo and Stan Snider.

Proclamations

The council had two proclamations to make.

October 5-11, 2025, would be Fire Prevention Week. Ladner read the proclamation. The Town of Silver City Fire Department has committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in Silver City, as well as  visiting. Fire remains a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the presence of lithium-ion batteries in many household devices introduces unique fire risks. Most of the electronics used in the home daily including laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-bikes run on lithium-ion batteries. These can overheat and cause a fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports an increase in battery-related fires.