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Price ChangeSpot $106.03 - .14Posted $102.50 NCSour $93.90 NCN. Gas $4.535 + .089
West Texas intermediate
Inside Today
OIL PRICES
Obituaries ...........................2Lottery.................................2Mark the date ....................3Fun & Games ......................5Weather ..............................6Sports ..................................7Classifieds..........................10TV ......................................12
Community News
VOTER REGISTRATIONfor the Nov. 4 generalelection has startedand lasts through Oct.7. Voter registrationcan take place at anyNew Mexico stateoffice or at the LeaCounty Clerk’s Officeat the County court-house in Lovington.For more information,call 396-8619.
The Hobbs PoliceDepartment invites thepublic to a COMMU-NITY COFFEE at 7:30a.m. today at the HPDheadquarters. Enterthrough the northdoors.
Eunice will be hosting aMARROW DONORREGISTRY DRIVEtoday at the EunicePublic Library meetingroom, 1003 Avenue N,from 9:30 a.m.-5:30p.m.
The Lea County Boardof COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS willmeet at 9 a.m.Thursday at the LeaCounty Courthouse,100 N. Main inLovington. For moreinformation, call 396-8602.
NNeewwss--SSuunnSince 1927 50 cents
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DENISE MARQUEZNEWS-SUN
Hobbs gross receipt tax revenueshave been breaking records in recentmonths, but June’s GRT distributionfell by $1.6 million.
Hobbs received about $5.7 millionthis month for its share of grossreceipts taxes generated from Aprilbusiness activity. Last month Hobbsreceived about $7.3 million for itsMarch business activity, which wasthe third time this fiscal year the citycollected more than $7 million in GRTrevenues.
Gross receipts aredefined by the state asthe total amount ofmoney businessesreceive through sellingor leasing of propertyor goods in NewMexico, or through theperformance of servic-es.
Grant Taylor, Hobbs Chamber ofCommerce executive director, saidthis is the first time in about a yearthat the city received a distributionless than $6 million.
“The last time thecity received a distri-bution of less than $6million was June2013,” he said. “The$1.6 million — 23 per-cent — drop in GRTfrom May to June isthe steepest in yearsfor the same period.The May to June drop
in 2013 was only three percent.”Taylor said the April business activ-
ity report has yet to be released by thestate’s Taxation and Revenue
Department, but said staff havelooked at past reports to see if therewas a trend.
“We looked at past reports from 2009-2013 to see if there was anything con-sistently appearing,” Taylor said.“From 2009-2013, gross receipts forthose Hobbs businesses classified as‘mining, quarrying and oil and gasextraction’ during April were lowerthan the calendar year average for allfive years. The business activity ofHobbs retail trade was a little more
Tax revenue drops 23 percent
CHRISTIAN BETANCOURTNEWS-SUN
After pleading guilty to fraud andembezzlement charges and sen-tenced to 21 years in prison formerLovington accountant Doyle Yanceywas before Fifth District Judge MarkSánchez Monday asking for a pleawithdrawal.
Yancey, 71, told Sánchez that he wascoerced into taking a guilty plea forfraud, embezzlement and racketeer-ing. He said he did not understandthe chargesbrought againsthim at the timeand wanted towithdraw his pleaand have his sen-tence reconsid-ered.
After hearingYancey’s testimo-ny Sánchez deniedthe motion andordered him toremain in custodyand serve the remainder of his sen-tence.
In March, Yancey plead guilty tocharges of fraud of more than $2,500,embezzlement of more than $2,500but less than $20,000 — both third-degree felonies — two counts offraud over $20,000, embezzlementover $20,000 and two counts of rack-eteering — all second-degreefelonies.
When Yancey was sentenced inApril, Gwen Gist, assistant districtattorney, recommended Yanceyserve 12 years in prison for hiscrimes while Yancey’s defense attor-ney Jon Fredlund asked for clemen-cy for his client due to his advancedage.
Sánchez however, felt Yanceyshould be sentenced to 21 yearsimprisonment while serving consec-utive sentences for his crimes.
During Yancey’s sentencing hear-ing several of his victims spokeabout feeling betrayed by Yancey,
Attempt towithdrawguilty pleadenied
JAYCIE CHESSERNEWS-SUN
LOVINGTON — What began as astandard action item on theLovington City Council agendaMonday, ended in serious debateregarding whether or not toapprove the advertisement of anordinance concerning the annexa-tion and zoning change of an 8.28acre tract of land located on theeast side of 17th street.
“The recommendation from theplanning and zoning board was tobring this area into the city limits,”James Williams, Lovington city
manager said. “Further, their rec-ommendation was to proceed with aself storage facility to be built thereand request a variance that wouldgrant only the interested developerfor that particular project the abili-ty to construct and operate a busi-ness in that particular zone.”
Ryan Burkett, along with part-ners, requested annexation of theproperty into the city in order todevelop that land into a brand newstorage facility.
“I would like to request a zoning
Zoning change OK’d for Lovington storage facility
Yancey
DENISE MARQUEZNEWS-SUN
More than 100 children chanted, “We’re going to thenew Boys and Girls Club” as they marched to the site ofthe future club, Tuesday.
The Hobbs Boys & Girls Club broke ground on a new$10 million, 30,000-square-foot facility at 301 E. Broadway,which has been funded by the J. F Maddox Foundation.
The new club is being built by Albuquerque-based HBConstruction and is expected to be completed by May2015.
Tres Hicks, Boys & Girls Club board member and pres-ident of the project’s building committee, said the newfacility will be state-of-the-art but is designed specifical-ly for the children of the community.
“What we’re excited about today is we are just imagin-ing what can be done in a facility designed for andaround the kids,” he said.
The new club will feature two large gymnasiums, activ-ity rooms, a theater, an administration wing, two largemulti-purpose rooms, a technology center, an art roomand a kitchen. The gymnasiums and multi-purposerooms will also feature moveable wall partitions thatallow the rooms to expand into larger event spaces.
The Boys & Girls Club currently serves approximately1,200 children per year at the club’s four locationsthroughout Hobbs including the club’s three school-based sites at College Lane Elementary School, StoneElementary School and Taylor Elementary School.
Robert Wallach, Boys & Girls Club board member, saidthat with the new building, the programs offered by theclub will only be better.
“This is so exciting,” he said. “What this does for us isit gives us tremendous opportunities for programing and
A moment in history
KIMBERLY RYAN/NEWS-SUNMembers of J.F Maddox Foundation, board members of Boys and Girls Club, city commissioners and citypersonal along with Boys and Girls club members break ground on the Hobbs Boys & Girls Club’s new $10million, 30,000-square-foot facility at 301 E. Broadway Street.
Members of theLovington CityCouncil approvedthe annexation andzoning change ofan 8.28-acre tract ofland on 17th StreetThursday in orderfor a proposed stor-age facility to bebuilt in that area.The facility isexpected to resem-ble the one at left.
SEE YANCEY, Page 4
SEE LOVINGTON, Page 4
Gross receipts
SEE TAXES, Page 4
Ground broken on new Hobbs Boys & Girls Club
SEE CLUB, Page 4
education and a positive influence and a posi-tive place for the kids to go.”
Mayor Sam Cobb attended the ceremony andsaid the Boys & Girls Club’s ground breaking ishistory in the making.
“This ground breaking signifies a moment inhistory of Hobbs,” he said. “Our residents, ourlocal government and the J. F MaddoxFoundation are coming together to improve thequality of life for all of our residents, especiallyfor our children under the leadership of theBoys & Girls Club.”
“I believe that a community that cares for itschildren will always be blessed,” Cobb contin-ued. “Not only in the things that can be quanti-fied, but blessed in its most important assets —its community spirit.”
The Boys & Girls Club was founded on Aug. 15,1964 as the Boys Club of Hobbs and the club ini-tially operated out of a small building just a fewblocks away from the club’s current location.
In 1967, the club moved into its current loca-tion, a former Safeway grocery store, and laterexpanded to allow female membership andchanged its name to the Boys & Girls Club ofHobbs.
Jim Maddox, president of the J. F MaddoxFoundation, said the foundation is honored tocreate a great space for the communities chil-dren.
“This is going to be a facility very well designed
and specifically designed for the needs of ourchildren.” he said. “(It will have) wonderfulspaces to play, create, learn and grow. This is acommunity asset.”
change for the property fromzone A (single family residen-tial) to zone C (commercial),”Ryan Burkett, managing part-ner and agent, said. “If theannexation and new zoningpasses, my partners and I willbe building a high-end, upscaleself-storage facility.”
Burkett presented pictures ofcomparable facilities that rep-resented what the new facilitywould look like to help visual-ize the property, which isdirectly south of HalsellChiropractic.
“The facility will have a verynice curb appeal and will be anasset to the neighborhood withits appropriate appearance,”Burkett said. “Self-storagefacilities are a very low trafficbusiness and a secured facilitylike ours has very low noiseand disturbance.”
Several homeowners nearthe proposed storage facilityarea spoke about their con-cerns regarding the new addi-tion.
“My home sits right at theedge of that property and I feelthat building a storage unit,even as one as beautiful asthey’ve shown us, is going tocause the property value to godown,” John Benard said. “I
think it is a great project justin the wrong place.”
“We seem to think that thiswill be the first piece of com-mercial land that will be inthat area, Halsell Chiropracticand Good Samaritan are com-mercial properties that arealready there,” said city coun-cilor Ava Benge, who is alsothe Lea County Assessor. “Do Ithink that this commercialproperty will be a detriment tothat area, no. My only concernis are we limiting ourselves ifwe grant that change to com-mercial.”
“They said at the planningand zoning meeting last weekthat this would bring up thequality of life in that area,”Jerry Domzalski said. “I justdon’t see how a storage facilitywill add to the quality of life.”
In the end, the action itemwas approved with a 3-2 vote.
Benge, councilor Paul Camposand Mayor Scotty Gandy votedin favor of the ordinanceadvertisement while coun-cilors Bernard Butcher andDavid Trujillo voted against.
“I have to agree with thehomeowners in this instance,”Trujillo said. “However, I dosupport what you are doing forthe community.”
“For 20 years no one hastaken the opportunity or ini-tiative to build on that proper-ty,” Gandy said. “I challengeyou to open your thinking andvision of your community. Ifwe continue to grow we willcontinue to have these strug-gles and there will always besomething that one person or agroup of people don’t think isgoing to fit there.”
Jaycie Chesser can be reached at391-5436 or at [email protected].
FOR THE NEWS SUNALBUQUERQUE – Three
more indictments were filed asa result of a multi-agency fed-eral drug trafficking investiga-tion involving five Hobbs men.
The indictments come after afederal grand jury indicted sixindividuals with narcoticstrafficking offenses as theresult of the investigation inMay.
The three indictments werefiled June 18 and wereannounced by U.S. AttorneyDamon Martinez, FifthJudicial District AttorneyJanetta B. Hicks, SpecialAgent in Charge Carol K.O.Lee of the FBI’s Albuquerquedivision and CommanderByron Wester of the LeaCounty Drug Task Force.
The first indictment chargesthe following six individualswith trafficking methampheta-mine in Lea County: LeroyCastillo, 32, Joe Padilla, 33, andRoland Cantu, 38, of Hobbs,Mario Enrique Flores, 28, ofArtesia and Anthony JoePisana, 28, of Roswell.
The second indictmentcharges Ruben Cantu, 41, ofHobbs, with violating the fed-eral firearms laws. The thirdindictment charges AntonioAcosta, 30, also of Hobbs withtrafficking methamphetaminein Lea County and being afelon in possession of afirearm.
Pisana was arrested June 20during a law enforcementoperation and made his initialappearances in federal courtin Roswell Monday.
Also on Friday, officers exe-cuted two search warrants at aRoswell residence where theyrecovered about 2.25 pounds ofmethamphetamine and morethan $9,000.
Roland Cantu, Ruben Cantuand Acosta are in state custodyand will be transferred to fed-eral custody to face thecharges in the indictments.
Castillo, Padilla and Floreshave yet to be arrested and areconsidered fugitives.Individuals with informationregarding their whereaboutsare asked to call the FBI at 505-622-6001.
The initial indictmentincludes a conspiracy countagainst the six defendants, two
counts of possession ofmethamphetamine with intentto distribute and four counts ofusing communication devicesto facilitate drug traffickingcrimes. If convicted on thecharges in the indictment,each defendant faces a manda-tory minimum of five years toa maximum of 40 years inprison.
Ruben Cantu faces twocounts of felon in possessionof firearms and ammunitionfor unlawfully possessing afirearm and ammunition inMarch 2014. At the time, hewas prohibited from possess-ing firearms or ammunitionbecause he previously hadbeen convicted of a marijuana
trafficking charge. If convict-ed, Cantu faces a maximumpenalty of 10 years in prison.
Acosta is charged with twocounts of possession ofmethamphetamine with intentto distribute and one count ofbeing a felon in possession of afirearm and ammunition inMarch 2014. At the time,Acosta was prohibited frompossessing firearms or ammu-nition because he previouslyhad been convicted of forgery,possession of a controlled sub-stance, and possession ofmethamphetamine. If convict-ed, he faces a maximum of 20years in prison on the nar-cotics charges and 10 years onthe firearms charge.
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE 4HOBBS NEWS-SUN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014
who they considered a friend.During Monday’s proceedings while sporting
a long white beard and a blue jumpsuit, Yanceymade his way to the witness stand as he pre-pared to testify on his behalf.
He said during testimony that he never fullyunderstood the charges brought against himand only took the plea to stop an extra 31charges that were brought up against him forfailing to file taxes with the IRS.
Fredlund asked Yancey if those charges werethe main motivator for him entering into aguilty plea.
“My understanding was that if I entered aguilty plea those charges would be dismissed bythe prosecution,” Yancey said.
He further testified that while the LovingtonPolice Department served a search warrant athis residence, important documents were takenthat prevented him from fixing his situationwith the IRS.
Yancey continued his testimony saying hewaived three preliminary hearings and the firsttime he faced a judge he took the plea but wasunaware of the consequences.
Gist cross-examined Yancey asking him ifwhen he stood in front of a judge in April heremembered the judge asking him if there wasbasis for those charges, possible penalties and ifhe understood.
Yancey replied “Yes.”She also asked him if those extra charges that
were brought up against him occurredovernight or were the result of several liensthat he had with the IRS for not filing taxes intime over a period of time.
Yancey testified to not making any efforts tocontact the state to fix his tax situation.
Fredlund asked for a reconsideration of sen-tence calling it a cruel and unusual punishmentfor his client due to his advanced age.
Sánchez responded that his sentencing waswithin the margins of the law and ordered thesentence to remain the same.
The sentencing stems from three differentcases accusing Yancey of fraud in his account-ing business as well as a prayer group where heserved as treasurer.
A criminal complaint filed in the LovingtonMagistrate Court states Yancey told two of hisclients to make checks designated to the IRS inhis name as the federal entity would not accepttheir business checks since they originated inTexas and they ran a business in New Mexico.
Another of Yancey’s clients stated he wasmore than $39,000 in debt to the IRS and Yanceyembezzled more than $91,000 during a seven-year period.
According to the complaint, representativesfrom the prayer group said Yancey took morethan $4,200 from their collections.
Christian Betancourt can be reached at [email protected] or 391-5446.
Yanceyfrom PAGE 1
Lovingtonfrom PAGE 1
Clubfrom PAGE 1
More federal charges addedto alleged Lea traffickers
varied year over year for the month of Aprilduring those same five years, sometimes beinghigher than average.”
“I’m not versed enough in the oil and gasindustry to know what’s happening — or nothappening — in April each year that wouldcause the drop in gross receipts,” Taylor con-tinued. “It certainly does translate to a June dipin gross receipts tax distributions, but the rela-tionship between the two is not necessarily pro-portionate either, so there are obviously morefacts to consider.”
Toby Spears, city finance director, said it’s dif-ficult to tell if having a lower GRT check forApril business activity is a trend since activitychanges from month to month and year to year.
“It falls in line with last year,” he said. “Youhave to look at each month compared to lastmonth. All your quarterly filers is probably thereason for the difference. If you look at thefuture, it usually dips up in August because
those are June quarterly filers. It’s kind of likea trend that is normal. You look at every monthof last year and the activity is just differentfrom one month to the next. So I’m attributingit to quarterly filers.”
Taylor said next months GRT disbursementshould be looking like May’s.
“By just giving our gross receipts tax data aquick look on the Hobbs Chamber’s website,one can pretty confidently say that the city’snext GRT distribution in July will be above the$6 million mark,” he said.
Spears said Hobbs GRTs have been impressivethis year.
“We have $72.6 million in unrestricted rev-enues in GRT compared to last year’s $65.3 mil-lion,” he said. “Mining still leads the industry.It’s about 39 percent of our total $72.6 million.There’s four trends retail, construction, servic-es and mining. We’re up probably about 11 per-cent from last year (in mining).”
Denise Marquez can be reached at 391-5437 or [email protected].
Taxesfrom PAGE 1
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — AnAlbuquerque man accused offatally stabbing a neighborover a dispute about a barkingdog has been indicted.
Prosecutors say 33-year-oldRicardo Villanueva-Cordova isfacing charges of first-degreemurder and kidnapping.
A Bernalillo County grandjury issued a warrant for hisarrest Monday.
Customers of anAlbuquerque gasoline stationcalled 911 on June 18, 2013 toreport seeing a man beingrepeatedly stabbed.
The suspect fled the scene ina pickup truck and 27-year-oldMichael S. Sanchez later diedat a hospital.
Witnesses relayed the vehi-cle’s license plate to police,who tracked down Villanueva-Cordova at his home.
Man is indictedin fatal stabbing
KIMBERLY RYAN/NEWS-SUNCity Commissioner Jonathan Sena helps a Boysand Girls Club member grab a hard hat and ashovel at the ground breaking ceremony.
