Las Cruces, NM—The Third Judicial District Attorney Gerald Byers announces that Joel Arciniega-Saenz was indicted by a Doña Ana County Grand Jury. Today, Third District Court Judge Conrad Perea in a Pre-Trial Detention Hearing granted a motion by defense for delay and continuance. Arciniega-Saenz next hearing is scheduled for July 6, 2021; he is charged with First Degree Murder (Willful and deliberate).
Arciniega-Saenz is accused of stabbing James Garcia multiple times and cutting off his head in an incident at Apodaca Park on June 20, 2021.
A Grand Jury indictment is the formal accusation of felony offenses based upon a finding of probable cause. A grand jury’s role is to determine whether there is in fact probable cause for criminal charges. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at trial.
Information from Office of the Third Judicial District Attorney