Boyfriend-girlfriend serial burglars JoJoe “Shark” Archuleta and Alexas “Panda” Luna were already out awaiting trial on burglary charges when they were caught on camera ransacking another home, in southeast Albuquerque, stealing $5,000 worth of valuables and letting loose its owners’ two family dogs.
The crime duo were found guilty of residential burglary and sent to state prison. Luna herself received four and one-half years behind bars.
“A woman who has been causing mayhem in Albuquerque will be off the streets for some time,” reported KRQE-TV News covering her sentencing hearing in Jan. 2020.
"You did something wrong and there’s going to be a negative outcome, a consequence like some kind of accountability would just be incredible,” said Makala Kritter, one of the duo's victims.
But "accountability" didn't last long.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham would release “Panda” and “Shark” from state prison a few months later, along with 683 other convicted criminals. She claimed they had to be freed due to “COVID-19.”
But neither stayed free for very long.
A New Mexico Sun analysis of state prison records that many of the inmates released by Grisham in spring 2020 have been re-arrested.
That includes Archuleta and Luna.
Luna was booked again by the New Mexico Department of Corrections on April 13, 2021. She’s currently out again, on parole.
Archuleta was booked back into the Northwest New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants on July 29, 2022, charged with felony drug possssion. He is currently serving time for five residential burglary charges, two larceny charges and for felony possession of a controlled substance.
Albuquerque police reports show Archuleta has prior arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (four times) , child abuse, felony conspiracy, resisting arrest, bringing contraband into jail, public nuisance, receiving a stolen car, criminal trespassing, He's been arrested for burglary, shoplifting and larceny 12 times since 2009.
He's almost been as prolific as Grisham-released convicted burglar, forger and identity thief Jared Rivera, who has been arrested at least 19 times, including for breaking into a medical pot dispensary in Santa Fe. State prison records show Rivera was re-arrested and booked on March 31, 2022.
No drunk drivers, but meth dealers, burglars, car thieves ok
In her controversial Executive Order, issued on March 11, 2020, Grisham cited her state constitutional power to grant any pardons for any state crime, at her leisure and discretion.
She said she would show some in selecting 685 criminal inmates to go free.
To be suspended by the governor, the criminal’s felony sentence could not be for “driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs."
But a conviction for selling drugs? Drug dealers themselves were cleared for release.
Grisham released convicted methamphetamine dealer Terry Lee “Dough Boy” Emmons, 37 in spring 2020. He was serving a sentence for drug trafficking and felony possession.
Emmons, 37, of Farmington, was arrested again on Oct. 5. He’s currently in the San Juan County Adult Detention Center, for failing to comply with the terms of his Grisham-suspended sentence.
In her Executive Order, Grisham also said that criminals currently serving sentences for attacking police or domestic abuse would not be eligible for participation in her mass prison release program. But she left a loophole for those who had been convicted previously of those crimes.
Jasin Herrera of Albuquerque, was freed by Grisham, his sentences for car theft and receiving stolen property suspended, previously did prison time for aggravated assault of a police officer as well as fleeing, in connection with another car theft charge.
Ditto for Grisham-freed Michael Lueras of Alamogordo, convicted of three felony drug possession offenses, as well as for having a firearm as a convicted felon. He previously did prison time for battery of a police officer and for resisting arrest.