Solomon Pe帽a's trial canceled after attorney departs case
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The trial for failed Republican candidate Solomon Pe帽a was canceled Monday after a federal judge allowed his attorney to resign from the case, Pe帽a鈥檚 attorney said.
Jury selection had been scheduled to begin Monday on federal charges alleging Pe帽a orchestrated a string of shootings at the homes of Democratic elected officials following the 2022 election.
U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs agreed to dismiss Elizabeth Honce during a brief hearing Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, Honce said. She declined to say why she and Pe帽a decided to part ways.
No orders or record of the hearing was listed in the federal court record by late Monday afternoon.
鈥淎s of this morning I no longer represent Mr. Pe帽a,鈥� Honce said Monday in a phone interview. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 safe to say he is going to get another attorney and continue on. The case has not been thrown out.鈥�
The U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office, which is prosecuting the case, released no additional details about Monday鈥檚 developments.
鈥淭he trial was continued this morning after a brief public hearing,鈥� the U.S. Attorney鈥檚 spokeswoman Tessa DuBerry said in an email.
Pe帽a was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023, alleging he 鈥渙rganized a shooting spree that targeted the homes of four elected officials and their families鈥� in December 2022 and January 2023.
He faces 13 federal charges, including multiple felony counts of using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. One count alleges he used and discharged a machine gun.
Pe帽a also faces charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm, four counts of interference with federally protected activities and conspiracy.
Pe帽a, who remains in federal custody, faces a potential life sentence if convicted on those charges.
Federal prosecutors allege that Pe帽a was motivated by his November 2022 election loss to state Rep. Miguel Garcia, a Democratic incumbent, by a nearly 50% margin. Pe帽a later said on social media that he believed the election was 鈥渞igged.鈥�
Prosecutors allege Pe帽a paid two co-defendants to help target the homes of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, former commissioner Debbie O鈥橫alley, House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez and state Sen. Linda Lopez.
No one was injured in the incidents, but a bullet penetrated the bedroom where Lopez鈥檚 daughter, then 10, was sleeping.
Pe帽a is accused of hiring co-defendants Demetrio Trujillo, 42, and his son, Jose Trujillo, 22, to help carry out the shootings. Both of the Trujillos pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple federal charges and face sentences of up to life in prison. Neither man has been scheduled for sentencing.
