UPDATE: Lozano pleaded no contest to the charges in 2013, received a deferred sentence, and had the charges dismissed in 2016 after successfully completing the probation period.
Martah Alondra Lozano, who is charged with tampering with evidence in the extortion case that has also snagged the Sunland Park mayor pro tem and city manager, voluntarily turned herself in to police today.
District Attorney Amy Orlando confirmed that Lozano, an assistant temporary human resources employee in Sunland Park, turned herself in just before noon. Lozano is a former news editor for the El Paso Univision affiliate KINT-TV and was Sunland Park’s youth coordinator prior to holding her current position.
Lozano faces fourth-degree felony charges of tampering with evidence and conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and a maximum of three years in prison if convicted. Her bond is set at $50,000 cash-only – the same as other defendants in the case who face more serious charges – because she’s an extreme flight risk, Orlando said.
“She’s a temporary worker and lives in El Paso, Texas, and otherwise has no connection we know of to New Mexico,” Orlando said.
Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Salinas and City Manager Jaime Aguilera are facing extortion and other charges for allegedly using a lap-dance video to try to force one of Salinas’ opponents to drop out of the March 6 mayoral race.
A fourth defendant, Sunland Park Public Works Director Jesus Dario Hernandez, remains at large. He faces the same charges as Lozano.
The charges against Lozano stem from actions she allegedly took last week when state police showed up at Sunland City Hall to executive a search warrant in the extortion case. According to the criminal complaint, surveillance video shows Lozano running into Salinas’ office, locking the door, grabbing two laptop computers and leaving the building through another door while police were outside the building.
Lozano admitted to police that Salinas directed her to retrieve the laptops, investigators say. Salinas told law enforcement the computers were stolen from his truck the next day in Ciudad Juárez and he no longer has them.
Orlando said Lozano’s bond was also set high because her actions showed how much influence Salinas has over her.
This article has been updated to include information about Lozano’s past employment.