GRANTS, N.M. — In a turn of events, charges against 25-year-old Brandon Malachi Tennant, who was previously charged with kidnapping and battery in an early August case, have been dropped, according to court records.
Tennant had initially faced serious charges of Kidnapping (First Degree) with the intent to commit a sexual offense, as well as Battery (Household Member), stemming from an incident that occurred on August 8, 2023, in Grants, New Mexico.
The case led to an arraignment scheduled for September 28, 2023, with Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos presiding. However, on November 13, 2023, a development occurred when the prosecution filed a 'Nolle Prosequi,' indicating their decision not to proceed with the charges against Tennant.
The reasons for the prosecution's decision to drop the charges are not immediately clear, as detailed information about the case's dismissal was not provided between the time the Cibola Citizen learned of this dismissal and press deadline. The Cibola Citizen has reached out to the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for details on the dismissal.
During the course of the case, Tennant was represented by attorney Blair Chandler, while the State of New Mexico was represented by Jason M. Rael.
As of now, there is no information on whether Tennant will face any additional legal consequences or if there will be any further developments in this case. The sudden dismissal has left many with unanswered questions, and it remains to be seen if additional information will be made available in the future.