By Roger Lanse
A January 2019 news release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office states that on Jan. 8, 2019, a GCSO deputy stopped a vehicle on Highway 180 in Bayard as subjects had earlier been reported loading firearms into the vehicle’s trunk. After gaining consent from the driver for a search, two firearms were located in the trunk of the vehicle. Those firearms were traced back to Steven Escobar, 30, of Hurley. Escobar was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence, both fourth-degree felonies. An arrest warrant was then issued by Magistrate Court Judge Maurine Laney.
A few days later, according to the release, on Jan. 12, 2019, a GCSO deputy on patrol in Santa Clara shortly before midnight, observed a male attempting to hide. A foot pursuit followed, with the male fleeing although the deputy identified himself to the male several times. The male was later identified as Steven Escobar. Escobar eventually stopped and was taken into custody on the prior felony arrest warrant from the Jan. 8 traffic stop and was further charged in this incident with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. He was booked into the Grant County Detention Center.
According to GCDC staff, Escobar was released on Jan. 24, under an unsecured appearance bond and was fitted with a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet, which he later removed.
On Mar. 15, 2019, according to a GCSO offense report, deputies went to Escobar’s known place of residence at 306 Aztec Avenue in Hurley with regard to his outstanding district and federal warrants and for violating his conditions of release by removing the GPS monitor. After refusing to come out of the house for almost five hours, deputies seized the house to hold it for a search warrant, and after New Mexico State Police officers arrived to assist in serving the warrants, Escobar emerged and was taken into custody. Escobar was arrested on the federal warrant for felonious possession of a firearm and transported to the Luna County Detention Center where he remains in custody as a federal inmate, according to LCDC staff.
U.S. District Court personnel in Las Cruces told the Beat that Escobar, as a federal inmate, is not eligible for bond release, and that a trial date for him has not yet been set, which means he will remain incarcerated until he stands trial.