Repeat-offender case review · 2020–2026
In the Courtroom of Judge Vidalia Chavez
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court
43 cases adjudicated · 34 problematic dispositions
- 0Incompetent findings
- 25Failure to prosecute
- 9State dismissals (nolle prosequi)
- 0Deferred dismissals
Analysis
Repeat-offender dismissals in this courtroom
This page reviews 43 criminal case dispositions of known repeat offenders in the courtroom of Judge Vidalia Chavez from 2020 through mid-2026. 34 of those cases ended in a non-merits resolution — 79% — meaning the underlying charge was not resolved by acquittal, conviction, or plea.
In the featured examples below, many of the same defendants were charged again after the case was closed.
What counts as “problematic.” Across a study of more than 5,000 cases involving 150 prolific repeat offenders in New Mexico, a disposition is treated as problematic when it does not resolve the charge on the merits. That includes findings of incompetence, failure to prosecute, State notices of dismissal (nolle prosequi), and deferred dismissals. Valid reasons can exist in individual cases. The question this record raises is pattern and consequence, not a single file.
Disposition snapshot
Cases not resolved on the merits
34 problematic · 9 not problematic, of 43 reviewed.
ProblematicNot problematic
How the 34 problematic cases closed
Non-merits (problematic) disposition types in this courtroom:
Problematic dispositions by time period
Open a period to read the featured cases from the narrative. Each card keeps the original paragraph and flags the disposition type.
2020–2021 Early Signals of Recurring Dismissal 5 featured cases
June 2020
Gregory Beasley
In June 2020, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Assault (unlawful acts, threats or conduct) (household member) case against Gregory Beasley, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 6 prior cases. Beasley faced new charges of Driving While License Revoked – DWI Related in January 2021.
September 25, 2020
Candido Robles
On September 25, 2020, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in two cases against Candido Robles on the same day—one for Aggravated Battery (Misdemeanor)(No Great Bodily Harm) and one for Battery (household member)—assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, with Robles having 10 to 11 prior cases. Robles faced new charges of Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle in November 2020.
July 2021
Mike Chavez
In July 2021, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Violation of Restraining Order Prohibiting Domestic Violence case against Mike Chavez, who had 17 prior cases. Chavez faced new charges of Assault Against a Household Member in March 2022.
August 2021
Dana Delouth
In August 2021, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Battery (household member) case against Dana Delouth, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 13 prior cases. Delouth faced new charges of Battery (household member) in September 2021.
December 2021
Alex Harris
In December 2021, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery (household member) case against Alex Harris, who had 23 prior cases. Harris faced new charges of Larceny (Over $500 but not more than $2,500) in March 2022.
2022–2023 Peak Volume and Same-Day Clusters 1 featured case
February 2022
Dana Delouth
In February 2022, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery (household member) case against Dana Delouth, who had 15 prior cases. Delouth faced new charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony in April 2022.
2024–2026 Continued High-Prior Dismissals and Reoffending 26 featured cases
January 2024
Marlin James
In January 2024, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Shoplifting ($250 or Less) case against Marlin James, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 16 prior cases. James faced new charges of Criminal Trespass (Posted) in July 2024.
January 2024
Manuel Palmier Barros
In January 2024, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Violation of Restraining Order Prohibiting Domestic Violence case against Manuel Palmier Barros, who had 10 prior cases. Palmier Barros faced new charges of Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon) in February 2024.
April 2024
Gabriel Devolk
In April 2024, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Shoplifting ($250 or Less) case against Gabriel Devolk, who had 12 prior cases. Devolk faced new charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony in March 2025.
May 30, 2024
Louisa Scott
On May 30, 2024, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass case against Louisa Scott, who had 9 prior cases, and the Criminal Trespass case against Yoshua Young, who had 12 prior cases. Scott faced new charges of Criminal Trespass in June 2024. Young faced new charges of Battery upon a Health Care Worker in July 2024.
May 2024
Richard Sanchez
In May 2024, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Battery (household member) case against Richard Sanchez, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 45 prior cases. Sanchez faced new charges of Criminal Damage to Property (Under $1000) in June 2024.
August 2024
Miguel Gasca
In August 2024, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass (Public) case against Miguel Gasca, who had 10 prior cases. Gasca faced new charges of Criminal Trespass (Damage) in May 2025.
December 2024
Andres Galvan
In December 2024, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery (household member) case against Andres Galvan, who had 27 prior cases. Galvan faced new charges of Battery (household member) in April 2025.
January 2025
Tya Whiteley
In January 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass case against Tya Whiteley, who had 17 prior cases. Whiteley faced new charges of Criminal Trespass in April 2025.
January 2025
Jason Rojas
In January 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Larceny – Misdemeanor [Open] case against Jason Rojas, who had 14 prior cases. Rojas faced new charges of Dealing in Credit Cards of Another in January 2025.
January 2025
Dana Delouth
In January 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer case against Dana Delouth, who had 31 prior cases. Delouth faced new charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony in March 2025.
March 2025
Gregory Beasley
In March 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Crossing at Other than Cross Walk case against Gregory Beasley, who had 15 prior cases. Beasley faced new charges of Larceny (Over $250 but not more than $500) in October 2025.
March 2025
Xena Estrada
In March 2025, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Concealing Identity case against Xena Estrada, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 17 prior cases. Estrada faced new charges of Criminal Trespass in March 2025.
March 2025
Candido Robles
In March 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery (household member) case against Candido Robles, who had 34 prior cases. Robles faced new charges of Aggravated Burglary in May 2025.
April 2025
Michael Casey
In April 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass case against Michael Casey, who had 30 prior cases. Casey faced new charges of Violation of Restraining Order Prohibiting Domestic Violence in January 2026.
July 2025
Matthew Jones
In July 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery case against Matthew Jones, who had 31 prior cases. Jones faced new charges of Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon) in July 2025.
August 2025
Zachariah Ault
In August 2025, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Criminal Trespass case against Zachariah Ault, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 9 prior cases. Ault faced new charges of Criminal Trespass in August 2025.
October 2025
Daniel Knowles
In October 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Indecent Exposure case against Daniel Knowles, who had 16 prior cases. Knowles faced new charges of Criminal Trespass in January 2026.
October 2025
Misty Frazee
In October 2025, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Shoplifting ($250 or Less) case against Misty Frazee, who had 56 prior cases. Frazee faced new charges of Criminal Trespass in March 2026.
November 2025
Trevor Barnette
In November 2025, the prosecutor filed a notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) in the Shoplifting ($250 or Less) case against Trevor Barnette, assigned to Judge Vidalia Chavez at the time, who had 22 prior cases. Barnette faced new charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony in January 2026.
January 2026
Miguel Gasca
In January 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass case against Miguel Gasca, who had 20 prior cases. Gasca faced new charges of Criminal Trespass (Public) in April 2026.
February 2026
Richard Romero
In February 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest) case against Richard Romero, who had 44 prior cases. Romero faced new charges of Shoplifting (Over $250 but not more than $500) in June 2026.
March 2026
Ivan Maldonado
In March 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass case against Ivan Maldonado, who had 34 prior cases. Maldonado faced new charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony in March 2026.
March 2026
David Gregory
In March 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Criminal Trespass case against David Gregory, who had 28 prior cases. Gregory faced new charges of Trafficking Controlled Substances (Distribution)(Narcotic or Meth)(1st Offense) in March 2026.
March 2026
Richard Romero
In March 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery case against Richard Romero, who had 45 prior cases. Romero faced new charges of Shoplifting (Over $250 but not more than $500) in June 2026.
May 2026
Jessica Pedroza
In May 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Indecent Exposure case against Jessica Pedroza, who had 40 prior cases. Pedroza faced new charges of Competency Raised in June 2026.
May 2026
Matthew Jones
In May 2026, Judge Vidalia Chavez dismissed for failure to prosecute the Battery (household member) case against Matthew Jones, who had 40 prior cases.
Notable dispositions approved, ordered, or endorsed
| Period | Offender | Key charge(s) | Disposition by Judge Chavez | Priors | Notable subsequent charge(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (Sep 25) | Candido Robles | Aggravated Battery / Battery (household member) [same-day] | Notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) | 10–11 | Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle [Nov 2020] |
| 2021 | Mike Chavez | Violation of Restraining Order Prohibiting Domestic Violence | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 17 | Assault Against a Household Member [Mar 2022] |
| 2021 | Alex Harris | Battery (household member) | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 23 | Larceny (Over $500 but not more than $2,500) [Mar 2022] |
| 2022 | Dana Delouth | Battery (household member) | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 15 | Possession of a Controlled Substance – Felony [Apr 2022] |
| 2024 | Richard Sanchez | Battery (household member) | Notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) | 45 | Criminal Damage to Property (Under $1000) [Jun 2024] |
| 2024 (May 30) | Louisa Scott / Yoshua Young | Criminal Trespass / Criminal Trespass | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 9 / 12 | Criminal Trespass [Jun 2024] / Battery upon a Health Care Worker [Jul 2024] |
| 2025 | Candido Robles | Battery (household member) | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 34 | Aggravated Burglary [May 2025] |
| 2025 | Misty Frazee | Shoplifting ($250 or Less) | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 56 | Criminal Trespass [Mar 2026] |
| 2025 | Xena Estrada | Concealing Identity | Notice of dismissal (nolle prosequi) | 17 | Criminal Trespass [Mar 2025] |
| 2026 | Richard Romero | Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer (Arrest) | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 44 | Shoplifting (Over $250 but not more than $500) [Jun 2026] |
| 2026 | David Gregory | Criminal Trespass | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 28 | Trafficking Controlled Substances (Distribution) [Mar 2026] |
| 2026 | Jessica Pedroza | Indecent Exposure | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 40 | Competency Raised [Jun 2026] |
| 2026 | Matthew Jones | Battery (household member) | Dismissed by Judge Chavez for failure to prosecute | 40 | [No subsequent listed] |
Summarizing the record
The pattern of problematic dispositions in the courtroom of Judge Vidalia Chavez includes 25 dismissals for failure to prosecute and 9 State notices of dismissal (nolle prosequi). High-prior individuals in these records include Misty Frazee (56 priors), Richard Sanchez (45 priors), Richard Romero (priors reaching 45), Jessica Pedroza (40 priors), and Matthew Jones (priors reaching 40). Repeat names across separate dated dispositions include Candido Robles, Dana Delouth, Gregory Beasley, Miguel Gasca, Richard Romero, and Matthew Jones.
Learn More About This Judge Below
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