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Prosecutors Demand 90 Years for New Mexico Shooting Plotter

Prosecutors Urge 90-Year Sentence for Solomon Peña in New Mexico Shootings Case

In a dramatic escalation of a high-profile political violence case, federal prosecutors are pushing for a staggering 90-year prison sentence for Solomon Peña, the former Republican candidate accused of masterminding a series of drive-by shootings targeting Democratic officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The recommendation comes as Peña, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple felony charges, awaits his sentencing hearing. This case has gripped the nation, highlighting the dangerous intersection of election denialism, political extremism, and gun violence in the post-2020 election landscape.

Peña's story begins with his failed bid for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections. Running as a Republican in a heavily Democratic district, Peña suffered a landslide defeat, garnering only about 26% of the vote against his Democratic opponent. Refusing to accept the results, Peña became fixated on baseless claims of election fraud, echoing the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump and other far-right figures who have questioned the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors allege that this obsession spiraled into a calculated plot to intimidate and harm those he believed had wronged him.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the investigation, Peña orchestrated four separate shootings between December 2022 and January 2023. The targets were prominent local Democrats, including state legislators and a county commissioner. The attacks involved gunmen firing rounds into the homes of these officials, in some cases narrowly missing family members, including children. One particularly chilling incident saw bullets piercing the bedroom wall where a 10-year-old girl was sleeping. Miraculously, no one was killed, but the psychological toll on the victims has been profound, with several reporting ongoing trauma and heightened security measures in their daily lives.

Peña, a 41-year-old with a troubled past including prior felony convictions for burglary and larceny, did not pull the trigger himself. Instead, he allegedly recruited a team of accomplices—described in filings as "a posse of misfits"—to carry out the attacks. These individuals, some with their own criminal histories, were reportedly paid or coerced into participating. One accomplice, Demetrio Trujillo, has already been sentenced to prison time, while others face ongoing legal proceedings. Prosecutors paint Peña as the ringleader, providing firearms, ammunition, and detailed instructions, including maps and addresses of the targets. Text messages and surveillance footage recovered by investigators show Peña coordinating the operations, even expressing frustration when initial attempts failed to hit their marks.

The guilty plea in March came after Peña faced a slew of charges, including conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, possession of a firearm by a felon, and multiple counts related to the shootings. By admitting guilt, Peña avoided a trial that could have exposed even more damaging evidence, such as his alleged ties to extremist online communities and his public rants on social media decrying the election as "stolen." In exchange for the plea, some charges were dropped, but the severity of the remaining ones leaves him exposed to a lengthy sentence.

Now, in their sentencing memorandum filed with the U.S. District Court in New Mexico, prosecutors are arguing for the maximum possible penalty: 90 years behind bars. They describe Peña's actions as a "direct assault on democracy," emphasizing how the shootings were not random acts of violence but deliberate attempts to undermine the electoral process through fear and intimidation. "This was terrorism, plain and simple," one prosecutor stated in the filing, drawing parallels to domestic extremism cases like those stemming from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. They highlight aggravating factors, including Peña's lack of remorse—evidenced by jailhouse calls where he reportedly continued to justify his actions—and the vulnerability of the victims, who were targeted in their private homes.

Defense attorneys, however, are countering with a request for a far lighter sentence, potentially as low as 10 to 15 years. They argue that Peña suffers from severe mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and possible PTSD from a difficult upbringing marked by poverty and family instability. A psychological evaluation submitted to the court suggests that his election loss triggered a manic episode, exacerbating delusional thinking about fraud. The defense also points to Peña's cooperation with authorities post-arrest, including providing information that led to the apprehension of his co-conspirators. They portray him not as a hardened criminal mastermind but as a man whose life unraveled amid personal and political turmoil.

The case has broader implications, serving as a stark warning about the perils of unchecked election denialism. Legal experts note that Peña's actions fit into a pattern of post-2020 threats against election workers and officials, with the FBI reporting a surge in such incidents nationwide. In New Mexico, the shootings prompted enhanced security protocols for lawmakers and sparked legislative debates on gun control and protections for public servants. Victim impact statements included in the court filings are particularly poignant; one Democratic official described the attack as shattering her sense of safety, forcing her family to relocate temporarily. Another spoke of the chilling message it sent: that political disagreement could escalate to life-threatening violence.

As the sentencing date approaches—currently set for later this month—attention is focused on U.S. District Judge Matthew Garcia, who will weigh these arguments. Prosecutors are leveraging sentencing guidelines that allow for enhancements due to the hate crime-like nature of the attacks and the use of firearms. They argue that anything less than 90 years would fail to deter similar acts, especially in an era where political rhetoric often veers into incitement. "Peña sought to subvert the will of the voters through bullets rather than ballots," the memorandum reads. "Such conduct demands the harshest condemnation."

Peña's fall from aspiring politician to convicted felon underscores the fragility of democratic norms. Once a vocal advocate for conservative causes, he now faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison. Supporters, few as they may be, have decried the prosecution as politically motivated, but evidence overwhelmingly points to a man driven by grievance and willing to resort to violence. The outcome of this case could set precedents for how the justice system handles politically motivated crimes, potentially influencing similar prosecutions across the country.

In the meantime, the affected communities in Albuquerque are working to heal. Local leaders have organized forums on civic discourse and non-violent conflict resolution, aiming to prevent future incidents. As one victim put it in her statement: "This wasn't just about me or my family; it was an attack on everyone who believes in fair elections." The push for a 90-year sentence reflects the gravity of that threat, ensuring that Peña's name becomes a cautionary tale in the annals of American political history.

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Read the Full Albuquerque Journal, N.M. Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/prosecutors-urge-90-sentence-solomon-030200302.html ]