By Kevin Buey
Deming Headlight
DEMING, NM — Minors assisting law enforcement in compliance operations, such as that undertaken Friday night when citations were issued to three Deming establishments and two Deming men were arrested, are recruited for those operations.
Sgt. Lee Mullen, of the Special Investigation Division of the Department of Public safety, said Monday none of the minors who work with law enforcement to check compliance with state liquor laws are under age 18.
In a four-county operation Friday, citations for selling alcohol to minors were issued to Deming’s La Fonda Restaurant, 601 E. Pine St.; Pic Quik, 1009 W. Pine St., and Cano’s Restaurant, 1200 W. Pine St.
The SID, New Mexico State Police and Alamogordo Police collaborated on “Operation Safe Summer Nights.” Minors attempted to purchase alcohol at 94 locations in Luna, Dona Ana, Grant and Otero counties. Thirteen were cited.
In Deming, Jonathan Carillo, 22, of the 1400 block of E. Birch Street, and Jaime Gamboa, 21, of the 300 block of Hood Street, were arrested for giving alcohol to minors. They were among eight people whom minors asked to purchase alcohol for them. They were the only two who made purchases. Selling or giving alcohol to a minor is fourth-degree felony, punishable by 18 months in prison.
Those who sold or served alcohol to minors were cited, Mullen said. He did not have names readily available when contacted by phone, Monday, as he was en route to Alamogordo. The sellers also face fourth-degree felonies. The liquor license of a restaurant, bar or store which sells alcohol is also affected.
Citations were also issued to Dona Ana County’s Sunland Park Casino and Racetrack, Billy Crew’s and SunMart #675 in Dona Ana County, Lowe’s (Tularosa), Chef Lupe’s, Chili’s and Pic Quik in Alamogordo/Otero County; and Yesterday’s Lounge in Silver City/Grant County.
“We try to do one of these at least every couple of months, in different areas,” Mullen said. “Most have been concentrated in Central and Northern New Mexico.”
There was a similar operation a few months ago in the Carlsbad and Hobbs area.
“When the operation was put together,” Mullen said of Friday’s sweep, “every licensed liquor establishment in Luna County was to be checked. We got to as many locations as we could. Places in Columbus were checked, others in the county. Everybody was on the list. Everyone was checked, until it was too late - a restaurant was closed, a retail, store was closed. It was just the luck of the draw.”
Bars were also on the list, Mullen said.
It’s preferred, Mullen said of minors who work in these operations, not to use youngsters in the area in which he or she lives.
“Most of the time,” Mullen said of the recruited youth, “they can be associated with law enforcement - a cop’s kid or young people going into criminal justice or just kids we recruit.”
Background checks are done on each and training provided for the operations.
Mullen said campgrounds and Elephant Butte Lake are among locations to be checked the July 4th weekend in enforcement sweeps, as agents and officers look for adults giving alcohol to minors and minors allowing themselves to be served alcohol.
Carrillo and Gamboa were seen Monday by Luna County Magistrate Court Judge Ray Baese. Each was released on an unsecured $15,000 appearance bond.
Carrillo was due in Sixth Judicial District Court Monday morning to enter a change of plea on a prior case, accused of possession for distribution of 23.4 pounds of marijuana. He decided to have the case go trial, scheduled Aug. 10.
Deming Police Chief Michael Carillo -- no relation; the chief spells his last name with one ‘r’ -- said Monday, Carrillo and Gamboa were among a group of several men whom officers dispersed Friday afternoon at San Miguel and Poplar streets after a report of an unruly gathering at that location.
Copyright 2010 Deming Headlight, a MediaNews Group Newspaper