LAS CRUCES – Doña Ana County District Attorney Mark D’Antonio on Thursday appeared in Third Judicial District Court for the sentencing of Jesse Denver Hanes. Hanes, 39, pleaded guilty in May to one count of first-degree murder, a capital felony, for the 2016 shooting death of Hatch police officer Jose Chavez.
“Today’s sentencing closes the book on an incredibly painful chapter for our community,” D’Antonio said. “While no amount of justice can erase the pain and suffering of the Chavez family, we can only hope that this provides them with some comfort.”
District Judge Douglas R. Driggers sentenced Hanes to life in prison without the possibility of release or parole, the maximum sentence available to prosecutors under New Mexico law.
Officer Chavez was conducting a routine traffic stop on Hanes' car on August 12th, 2016 when he was shot and killed by Jesse Hanes. Hanes was a fugitive wanted in connection with a murder in Ohio.
He then fled the scene, heading to a nearby rest stop, where he shot another man and stole his car. Hanes pleaded guilty in May to federal charges in connection with that portion of the crime spree. He will serve those charges concurrently with the murder charge.
Officer Chavez was a two-year veteran of the police force and a father of two children.
"We remain grateful for the selfless work of numerous law enforcement officers and agencies, working together in pursuit of justice,” D’Antonio added. “Working closely with our counterparts in federal law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we were able to spare the Chavez family the horror of a jury trial, and reliving the step-by-step facts of the case. Jesse Hanes will spend the rest of his life exactly where he belongs — in prison."
Information from Third Judicial District Attorney's Office