A New Mexico sheriff under fire for his handling of a drunken-driving arrest is now facing criminal charges.
KOAT-TV reports that Attorney General's office has charged Mora County Sheriff Thomas Garza with public records and criminal solicitation. New Mexico Attorney General Gary says the charges came after an investigation into claims that Garza asked a deputy to lie on a police report.
The state Law Enforcement Academy suspended Garza's certification in September for four months and put him on probation for a year after allegations that Garza assaulted a deputy over the drunken-driving arrest of a friend of Garza's. An audio recording presented to the board showed Garza trying to halt the arrest.
Garza and the county manager did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press.
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Information from: KOAT-TV, http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/index.html
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.