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CORRECTION! Please Read. Got bad info.

On Dec. 26, 2017, I wrote a story (posted below) about how a guy who got busted in Rio Rancho for DWI had to sit in jail longer than state court rules required because the RR Municipal Court judge didn't come in to work over the holiday weekend.

The story was incorrect in regards to the judge violating the Supreme Court rules. He didn't violate the rules.

But, it's not my fault. I got the incorrect information form Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts for New Mexico

The story (which is posted below) said that Rio Rancho Municipal Court Judge G. Robert Cook violated state Supreme Court rules by failing to give Raaj Mohan a bond hearing within 72 hours of his being booked into the Sandoval County jail.

The story also said that weekends and holidays - days the court is closed - can't interfere with the 72-hour rule. In other words, 72 hours is 72 hours, damn the holidays.

That was also incorrect.

Here's the statement I got today (Jan. 5, 2018), from Pepin:

"Mr. Domrzalski – When you called asking about the three-day rule I reversed the rules and mis-stated how the time is calculated. Judge Cook is correct. With a deadline of ten days or less, as is the case with the three-day rule for setting conditions of release, days when the court is closed including holidays and weekend days do NOT count toward the three days. I regret that I gave you an incorrect reading of the rule that caused you to criticize Judge Cook. I will be writing to him as well. Please feel free to quote and rely on this message if you are able to correct my error."

My apologies to Judge Cook.

And thank you to Pepin for correcting the information.

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I've been a reporter, writer and editor for 37 years. I'm dedicated to honest, fair and hard-hitting reporting. I'm not conservative or liberal, but am just a reporter who tries to get to the truth at any given point in time. I don't believe in pulling punches or being a lap dog because that serves no one. A free and aggressive press is essential to human liberty. That's why the Founding Fathers put a free press in the Constitution. So on this site you'll get a variety of news, fearless opinion, analysis, humor, satire and commentary. It's kind of like a free-for-all. My motto is "Without fear and without favor."  But good journalism takes time and money, so I hope you will contribute what you can to these efforts by clicking on the "Donate" button above. I could use your help. Thanks, Dennis Domrzalski.

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