New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that a jury found John Karl O’Brien guilty in an attempted murder case. O’Brien was charged with threatening Cibola County District Court Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos with an ax. "Any threat to a judge is a threat to our entire legal system," Torrez said. He emphasized that threats and violence are intolerable, expressing relief that the incident did not end tragically and satisfaction that O’Brien is being held accountable.
O’Brien faces up to 10½ years in prison after being convicted of attempted first-degree murder and threatening a judge. During the trial, prosecutors from the New Mexico Attorney General's office argued that on April 8, 2024, O’Brien entered the 13th Judicial District Court building in Grants intending to attack Judge Sanchez Villalobos. Witnesses reported his anger over a civil case decision by the judge.
Earlier that day, at Adams + Crowe Law Firm in Albuquerque, O’Brien allegedly threatened attorneys and staff, claiming he had a gun and intended to kill the judge. A witness saw him take an ax from his vehicle before leaving for the courthouse. An attorney quickly alerted court officials about the threat.
Judge Sanchez Villalobos was protected by Cibola County Sheriff’s detectives when O’Brien arrived at the courthouse lobby with the ax. The trial took place under Pro Tem District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. O'Brien remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
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