The preliminary hearing for one of the men accused in the drive-by shooting death of a Farmington man was continued for a second time.
Emilio Hilliard, 19, of Aztec, was due in court on Nov. 22 for a preliminary hearing in a second-degree murder case stemming from the Oct. 19 drive-by shooting on Gooding Lane that left Ethan Thompson, 23, of Farmington, dead.
Hilliard reportedly drove the vehicle and Bryce Trujillo, 18, of Aztec, allegedly fired the gun. Trujillo also faces a second-degree murder charge in the incident.
The San Juan County District Attorney’s Office requested the continuance for Hilliard’s preliminary hearing through a motion, which stated that “the state and the defense are still discussing this case and agree there isn’t a way for the case to go to preliminary hearing by Nov. 22.”
The motion was filed by Deputy District Attorney Michael Sanchez and it further stated that Hilliard “is not in custody on this matter,” and the “opposing counsel was contacted and does not oppose this matter.”
Hilliard’s attorney, Gregory Gaudette, of Los Lunas, previously requested a continuance for the preliminary hearing, which was originally set on Nov. 1. Gaudette in his motion stated he was unavailable on that date. He requested the Nov. 22 date, and pointed out it was a “defense delay,” and the 60-day rule for a preliminary hearing would expire on Dec. 24.
The new setting for Hilliard’s preliminary hearing is 8:30 a.m. Dec. 13 in Farmington Magistrate Court.
The preliminary hearing for Trujillo is set for 1 p.m. Nov. 29 also in Farmington Magistrate Court.
