GRANTS, N.M. - Two men charged in separate violent-felony cases in Cibola County have been released from custody in recent weeks under orders from the 13th Judicial District Court, prompting questions from residents about public safety and how pretrial decisions are made.
In one case, a defendant indicted in connection with an October homicide in Milan has been released to live with family in Los Lunas under strict conditions and electronic monitoring. In the other, a Grants case involving allegations of first-degree criminal sexual penetration with serious bodily injury and mental anguish and aggravated battery was dismissed at the detention stage over a discovery dispute, with prosecutors saying they intend to present the matter to a grand jury at a later date.
Both cases were assigned to District Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos and both men remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Homicide Suspect Released
According to the New Mexico State Police, surveillance footage and witness statements, on October 21, 2025, Dominic Jaramillo and Adrian Murrietta were at a gas station when 18year-old Myron Sandoval allegedly pointed a gun at Murrietta. According to NMSP, this happened because the two exchanged hostile looks and did confrontational gestures.
Jaramillo and Sandoval reportedly exchanged gunfire, resulting in the death of Sandoval.
Around 10 p.m., the Village of Milan Police Department was notified of “shots fired.”
Due to the serious nature and of the emergency call, personnel from the Grants Police Department responded to assist MPD with the on-scene investigation. Officers aided in attempting to locate the suspects’ vehicle, maintaining a crime scene log, and providing support to Cibola County Fire & Rescue and the Village of Milan Fire and Rescue until the scene was formally turned over to the New Mexico State Police.
On October 22, the NMSP Tactical Team executed a search warrant at a residence in Milan, resulting in the arrest of Adrian Murrietta. Following Murrietta’s arrest, Dominic Jaramillo turned himself in on October 23.
Jaramillo was also indicted earlier this year, on June 26, 2025, for Aggravated Battery Against a Household Member - Deadly Weapon (Third Degree Felony).
Dominic Jaramillo was released from custody on November 17, 2025, after being indicted on the charges of Second Degree Murder (second degree felony), Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle - Great Bodily Harm (second degree felony), and Tampering with Evidence [Highest Crime a Capital, First or Second Degree Felony] (third degree felony) for the Milan homicide on October 21, 2025.
The Cibola Citizen asked the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for clarity about this situation and why Jaramillo was released, the office explained, “The State did file a pre-trial detention hearing to hold the defendant without bond pending trial and hearing was held. However, the court found there were other less severe conditions of release that could keep the community safe and ensure defendant’s appearance for future court hearings, [the court] thus denied the state’s motion to hold the defendant on no bond hold.”
Homicide Charges and Proceedings
Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos has been assigned to both of Jaramillo’s cases.
The court records reflects the following actions, the Cibola Citizen has copies for much of this court paperwork.
On November 2, Jaramillo’s legal team filed a motion for pretrial detention on November 6 and an order placing the defendant to custody for that case only. The following day, the defendant appeared, filed a motion for discovery, a jury demand, a witness list, a request for witness interviews #1, and a demand for a speedy trial.
On November 5, a preliminary hearing for detention was interrupted by a motion for continuance. The judge granted continuance and rescheduled the pretrial detention to the18th of November.
On the case where Jaramillo reportedly shot a household member on June 26, 2025, resulted in his release. On November 17, an order requiring the defendant to maintain contact with an attorney was made, conditions of release set, and he was released to live in Los Lunas, New Mexico, with family.
A pretrial conference/docket call is set to take place February 6, 2026, and a jury trial is set for April 20, 2026. No future hearings are yet scheduled for Jaramillo concerning the October Homicide.
Jaramillo conditions of release demand he is to live in Los Lunas with his aunt and wear an ankle monitor. Additionally, Jaramillo is not to possess firearms, dangerous weapons, consume alcohol or cannabis, buy, sell, or possess illegal drugs, return to the location of the alleged incident, leave his resident between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am, leave the state of New Mexico, or make contact with alleged victims or anyone who may testify in the case.
Jaramillo must notify the court of any change of address, maintain contact with his attorney/seek and consult with an attorney, have an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle he may drive, and be on pretrial supervision and abide all conditions set by court and pretrial services.
In a written statement, Milan Police Chief Carl Ustupski explained, “Changes with the courts has been a topic in New Mexico and how certain things are handled we saw that down in Las Cruces recently this may be something we need to explore as far as the village of Milan being safe our officers will continue to show up every day and do their jobs the best they can to keep everyone in the community safe.”
Serious Sex-Crime Case Dismissed
A Cibola County case involving allegations of first-degree criminal sexual penetration resulting in great bodily harm and mental anguish, and aggravated battery, was dismissed last week after a judge agreed with the defense that prosecutors had not yet provided complete discovery in time for a key pretrial hearing.
Court records show that State of New Mexico v. Ian Macgregor Smith (D-1333PD-202500011) was filed in 13th Judicial District Court on Oct. 20, 2025, and assigned to District Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos, the same judge overseeing the Milan homicide case involving defendant Dominic Jaramillo.
Smith was charged with Criminal Sexual Penetration in the First Degree (Great Bodily Harm/Great Mental Anguish), a first-degree felony, and Aggravated Battery (Great Bodily Harm), a third-degree felony, for an incident alleged to have occurred on Oct. 20. Both charges were listed as “Dismissed – By Motion” on Nov. 12, according to the court docket.
Criminal Sexual Penetration Court Proceedings
The case moved quickly into the pretrial detention process, where prosecutors asked the court to hold Smith without bond pending trial.
On Oct. 20, the State filed a Petition for Pretrial Detention and requested an expedited hearing. A hearing was set for Oct. 30 in Grants District Court. In the days leading up to that hearing, filings show the defense entered its appearance, demanded discovery and exculpatory information, and requested a speedy trial. The defense also filed a motion to recuse Judge Sanchez Villalobos; that motion was denied in a separate order on Nov. 12.
On the day of the scheduled hearing, the case took a different turn.
According to a written explanation provided to the Cibola Citizen by the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office: “In State v. Ian McGregor Smith, the case was set for a pretrial detention hearing. However, on the day of the hearing the defense filed a motion to dismiss because they had not received complete discovery. The state argued we did not have complete discovery yet and everything the state intended to present at that particular hearing had been provided. However, the court agreed with the defense and dismissed the case. However, this is not the end of the case. This matter will be presented a grand jury at a later date.”
The court’s Order of Dismissal was entered on Nov. 12.
At this stage, the dismissal means the original complaint is no longer active, but it does not prevent prosecutors from seeking a new indictment from a grand jury. Smith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Arrest at Local Art Gallery
Smith was arrested in Grants at the Double Six Art Gallery, 1001 W. Santa Fe Ave., where he worked.
Grants Police Chief Maxine Monte told the Citizen that her officers were acting on an active warrant issued by the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office.
Because the underlying investigation belongs to CCSO, Monte declined to comment on case specifics.
“The safety of our community remains our number one priority. Crimes against women are serious offenses and we recognize the significant impact these crimes have on our community’s overall safety and wellbeing,” Monte wrote in a statement. “We ask the public: if you see something, say something. We strongly encourage citizens to contact the Grants Police Department with any concerns regarding their safety so that we can respond and assist. While it would be inappropriate for me to comment on another agency’s case, I want the citizens of Grants to know that the Grants Police Department is fully committed to protecting our community and ensuring the safety of every resident.”
Sheriff says “the people are safe” On Tuesday morning, the Citizen asked Cibola County Sheriff Larry Diaz why the District Attorney’s Office did not have full discovery available before the detention hearing and whether residents should be concerned about public safety in light of the dismissal.
“I can assure you the people are safe,” Diaz said.
The sheriff said the investigator assigned to the case was attending active shooter training on Nov. 26 and was not available to discuss case details. Diaz added that community members who feel unsafe, “can always call me.”
As of press time late Tuesday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office had not provided additional detail about what discovery materials were missing or how the office plans to support the DA’s effort to bring the case to a grand jury. Sheriff Larry Diaz’s number is 505-287-0350.
Prior Arrests and Community Concerns
Grants Police Department records reviewed by the Citizen show that a person identified as Ian M. Smith was previously arrested in 2011 for driving while intoxicated and again in 2022 on a charge related to drunken or disorderly behavior. Those prior cases are separate from the current allegations and do not indicate guilt in the dismissed case.
In recent days, multiple women in Grants have contacted the Cibola Citizen to voice concerns about their safety and the handling of the case.
What Should Citizens Do?
Cibola’s three law enforcement officials made it clear, if you see something, say something.
911 is the number to call for emergencies.
In non-emergencies, contact: (505) 287-4404, (505) 287-9477, (505) 2872983, (505) 287-4491