Dont ComplyAccording to Reason, a federal indictment filed this week accuses Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office deputy Paul Jessen Jr. of conspiring to interfere with commerce by extortion, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The indictment alleges he accepted items including a big-screen TV, tools, a generator, gift cards, hotel rooms and free legal services from Albuquerque defense attorney Thomas J. Clear III, in exchange for compromising DWI cases against Clear's clients. Reason reports that 13 people, including Clear, his paralegal and several former officers, have pleaded guilty to taking part in the long-running conspiracy. Reason also reports that a federal jury found Jessen guilty last July of obstructing justice, conspiring to obstruct justice and lying to FBI agents in a separate case. His attorney argued at that trial that the prosecution was payback by DEA agents. The notes report no response to the new indictment.
Why it matters
The indictment alleges a deputy took compensation to undermine DWI prosecutions, part of a scheme that Reason describes as the largest law enforcement scandal in New Mexico history. Thirteen people have already pleaded guilty in the broader conspiracy.
These are unproven claims, and everyone named is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Researched with AI assistance from the sources listed here and reviewed under our methodology.