Tucumcari man faces two felony charges

A Tucumcari man faces two felony charges after being accused of attacking a woman when she brought a meal to him.

Lawrence Poncho Rivas Jr., 24, was charged in a complaint filed Sept. 24 in Tucumcari magistrate court of aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), tampering with evidence, interference with communications, possession of drug paraphernalia and assault against a household member (unlawful act, threat or conduct).

The counts of aggravated assault and drug possession are fourth-degree felonies that can lead up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Rivas was booked into the Quay County Detention Center the morning of Sept. 23 on a no-bond hold by magistrate judge Timothy J. O’Quinn. He was released on bond Thursday afternoon.

According to a complaint filed by Tucumcari Police Cpl. Herman Martinez, officers were sent to the 600 block of East Laughlin Avenue to investigate a domestic disturbance the morning of Sept. 23.

According to Martinez’s complaint, a woman said Rivas assaulted her. She said Riva had called her, saying he was hungry and needed something to eat. She prepared a plate of food and drove to a residence on East Laughlin Avenue to deliver it. As the woman pulled her vehicle to the curb and rolled down its window to give the food to Rivas, he began yelling, she said.

Martinez wrote the woman stated “Rivas exited the residence with a glass bong which he smokes meth in and threw it at her vehicle, hitting the driver’s side window shattering the bong. There was an impact mark in the vehicle and clear glass on the vehicle”

The woman said she tried to call police. While doing so, Rivas reached into the vehicle and tried to take away her phone.

Tucumcari officers and Quay County sheriff’s deputies looked for Rivas and took him into investigative custody. Martinez said he found a net-type bag in a neighbor’s yard he recognized as belonging to Rivas and collected it. At the police station, Rivas identified the bag as his.

“Rivas stated there were syringes in the bag as well as a marijuana pipe,” Martinez wrote, and he gave consent to search it.

Rivas denied throwing anything or threatening the woman but acknowledged “they have arguments from time to time.”

No defense attorney was listed for Rivas in online court records.