GRANTS, N.M. – Cibola County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Robert Turney, leader of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, has been placed on the Brady list, marking him as a law enforcement officer with credibility issues.
His placement on this list requires disclosure in any case where he has served as an investigator or witness. The announcement has prompted Cibola County Sheriff Larry Diaz to place Turney on administrative leave and initiate what the sheriff said is an “independent investigation.”
The Brady/Giglio designation stems from a March 2022 court ruling by Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos, who found that “falsehoods were deliberately inserted” in documentation used to acquire a warrant in a case he handled while working for the Grants Police Department (GPD).
This ruling, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Martinez of the 13th Judicial District, was not initially communicated to the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), it wasn’t until October 25, 2024. Martinez said the office did not notify departments sooner due to oversight. Staff responsible for this are no longer employed at the 13th Judicial District.
Upon receiving this formal notification, CCSO placed Turney on administrative leave, pending an internal review of his actions and involvement in past cases.
“Robert Turney is still an employee with the Cibola County Sheriff’s Department. He’s currently on administrative leave pending an independent investigation,” Sheriff Larry Diaz said. “This matter stems from a case during the time he was employed at the Grants Police Department, and then he became an employee with the sheriff's department thereafter.”
A Look at Credibility
The Brady/Giglio list, a mandate under U.S. law, ensures that any evidence affecting an officer’s credibility is disclosed to defense attorneys in cases where that officer’s testimony or investigation is involved.
Issues arose after Turney’s testimony in a 2022 trafficking case conflicted with his sworn affidavit, leading Judge Villalobos to suppress evidence and dismiss the case. The District Attorney’s Office was required to but did not immediately notify all law enforcement agencies within the 13th Judicial District, which includes GPD and Milan Police Department, to prevent similar issues in future cases.
Martinez noted that any cases where Turney served as an investigator or provided testimony are now subject to review.
This includes a number of high profile cases, including the Sean Lannon Killings case from 2021 and other homicide cases. This listing does not mean cases will be dismissed because Turney was involved, but all of these cases he was involved in will be reviewed.
As of now, the District Attorney’s office is evaluating cases on a case-bycase basis to assess their prosecutorial integrity and determine if Turney’s involvement could compromise ongoing or past prosecutions.
“Any pending cases we have right now, we evaluate it, and we’ll determine if his testimony is necessary to continue with the case. If it is necessary, then we’ll have to evaluate whether or not we can proceed with this case,” Martinez explained.
The recent notification from the DA’s office triggered a mandatory review of Turney’s cases in Cibola County.
When asked about current CCSO policies on handling officers facing Brady/Giglio issues, Sheriff Diaz stated that the department is adhering to its Code of Ethics and the regulations for conduct unbecoming a county employee. Although Sheriff Diaz did not discuss specifics, citing the ongoing investigation, he acknowledged that CCSO might review and update policies regarding disclosure requirements for deputies.
“Each and every deputy here, each and every employee with the Cibola County Sheriff’s Department would face [Code of Ethics and conduct violations] should an incident occur,” Diaz said. “We’re dealing with this with Cibola County Sheriff’s Department and also with the DA’s office.”
This investigation comes amidst broader challenges for CCSO, including a recent officerinvolved shooting and allegations of illegal dumping in San Rafael. Sheriff Diaz emphasized the department’s dedication to the community and pointed to ongoing community policing initiatives, such as CCSO’s chaplaincy program and outreach events.
“We have two detectives working very hard and vigorously to solve those crimes, including our sheriff's deputies,” Diaz shared. “It’s just a shame that the paper doesn’t catch all that, but…we continue to strive for excellence on serving our community.”
Next Steps
Turney’s placement on the Brady/Giglio list has now triggered statewide implications, with an MNLEA-90 notification sent to all district attorney offices in New Mexico, effectively marking him across state records. Every district attorney’s office in the state has been notified of this black mark on Turney’s reputation.
Any trial requiring Turney’s involvement will require disclosure to defense attorneys about his credibility issues. “If his testimony is necessary to continue with the case,” Martinez said, “then we’ll have to evaluate whether or not we can proceed with [the] case, given his now credibility. If we can't, then we'll have to dismiss. If we do need to proceed, then we have to just make sure that the defense is aware of his actions.”
The DA’s office is conducting an ongoing, case-by-case review of Turney’s involvement to ensure fair trials moving forward.
“But as for what happens now,” Martinez said, “if [Turney] continues to be employed or if he continues to be an officer, that will follow him around ... Whether or not he continues to be an officer is between him and his employer.”
Editor’s Note: The Cibola Citizen was contacted by Lt. Robert Turney after our phone conversation with Sheriff Larry Diaz. The Citizen prioritized the integrity of the report by focusing on statements from CCSO and the DA’s office rather than Turney’s own account as the courts have ordered his credibility be questioned.