Judge gavel, scales of justice and law books in court.
SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — Two police officers in New Mexico could have their convictions tied to the death of a San Antonio man tossed out.
Hector Nava died July 31, 2021 after he was tased 14 times during a traffic stop in Jal, New Mexico. Nava was employed as an oil field worker at the time.
Officers Ceasar Enrique Mendoza and Robert Edward Embly were subsequently convicted on civil rights charges in February with sentencing scheduled for June, but the case is now on hold.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to dismiss all charges against both officers on the grounds they did not get a fair trial. The government is said to have excluded evidence of Nava’s drug use and cause of death at trial.
Nava’s family says they were not informed of the decision in advance, and they are now fighting to stop the convictions from being overturned.
A third officer, Corey Patrick Saffell, pled guilty in the case and testified against Mendoza and Embly.
According to KSAT-12, lead prosecutor and assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Patrick Saffell has never filed a motion to dismiss a conviction in her 22 years with the office.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Strickland has yet to rule on the case.
Stay tuned to 550 KTSA and FM 107.1 for the latest in this developing story.
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