Third Judicial District Judge Mike Murphy (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Prosecutor said he couldn’t immediately release documents filed late Friday in the case, so facts upon which the charges are based remain secret, at least for now
A grand jury indicted Third Judicial District Judge Mike Murphy on four felony counts including bribery Friday evening.
The charges Murphy faces include demanding or receiving a bribe by a public employee; bribery of a public officer or employee; and bribery, intimidation, or retaliation against a witness – all third-degree felonies. He also faces a fourth-degree felony charge of criminal solicitation.
That’s according to special prosecutor Matt Chandler, who, shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday, told NMPolitics.net and other media waiting at the courthouse in Las Cruces that the charges had been filed. Chandler said he could not immediately provide copies of the grand jury indictment or statement of facts about the case, even though he filed those documents with the court clerk moments earlier.
The court clerk closed immediately after Chandler filed the documents, so there was no opportunity to request copies.
Chandler said he could not comment further on the case. That means the facts upon which the charges are based remain secret for now.
If convicted on all charges, Murphy faces a maximum of 10.5 years in prison.
The grand jury finished its work after 6 p.m. Friday following a day of testimony from:
- District Judge Lisa Schultz.
- District Judge Jim T. Martin.
- Former District Judge Stephen Bridgforth.
- Former Appeals Court Judge and Las Cruces attorney Beverly Singleman.
- Edgar Lopez, a longtime Democratic political insider who heads a Las Cruces real estate company.
- Norm Osborne, an attorney with the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.
But what those witnesses told the grand jury isn’t clear. Those NMPolitics.net had a chance to speak with refused to comment on the situation.
So few details are known publicly about the case against Murphy, who did not appear before the grand jury. The judge is alleged to have paid a bribe in exchange for then-Gov. Bill Richardson appointing him to the bench in 2006 and possibly also soliciting bribes for Richardson from applicants for other judgeships.
The bribe or bribes were allegedly paid as political contributions and went to an unnamed “local political figure.” That person may be Lopez, who was heavily involved behind the scenes in the selection of judges during Richardson’s tenure.
Lopez is among those who have refused to speak with NMPolitics.net about the situation.
No one besides Murphy, including Lopez and Richardson, has been accused of a crime or received notification that a grand jury might indict them. Chandler declined to comment last week when asked by NMPolitics.net if others might be targeted by grand juries.
Murphy, through his attorney Michael Stout, has previously maintained his innocence. Stout could not immediately be reached for comment Friday evening.
Next, Murphy will have an opportunity to enter a plea in the criminal case. In addition, the Supreme Court, which has already rejected a request to suspend Murphy, may be asked again to remove him from the bench, at least pending the outcome of the criminal case.
This article has been updated for clarity.