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Salazar Sentenced, claims state council is racist
Published
Modified
BERNALILLO — David Salazar, 46, the man who was convicted for the first-degree murder of Joseph Keleher, 59, and tampering with evidence, was sentenced to life in prison Sept. 25 by Judge George Eichwald at the 13th Judicial District Court.
A life sentence in New Mexico includes up to 30 years in prison, then the defendant is eligible for parole. Eichwald stressed that just because someone is eligible doesn’t mean they will be released for parole.
Before Eichwald told Salazar what his sentence would be, defense council motioned for a new trial on the grounds that one of Salazar’s children was molested in a separate case that the defense just found out about. The defense tried to convince Eichwald to grant the motion so the new “evidence” would be heard. They also claimed that the state committed misconduct by not looking further into the molestation claims.
The state said that case had nothing to do with the murder itself, that their questions to witnesses during the trial were not prejudicial and asked that the judge deny the motion.
Eichwald agreed with the state, saying it has absolutely nothing to do with the Salazar murder case. He denied the motion and further stated that the state’s questions weren’t prejudiced.
There is a chance that the verdict gets overturned as the defense said they would appeal. However, because murder is a capitol offense, the appeal will go through the Supreme Court of New Mexico rather than the court of appeals.
The victim’s family and Salazar both addressed Eichwald before the sentencing was read out.
First, the victim’s 90-plus-year-old mother Bernadette spoke via video.
“I don’t know how someone can get a gun and shoot someone they don’t even know,” she said, pausing to take breaths from both exhaustion and being overwhelmed with emotion.
She also expressed sadness for the rising gun violence in the country.
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“Why would anyone ...?” she said as she choked on her words.
That seemed to be the common question from all of Keleher’s family: “Why?”
His sister, Evelyn Spruill, detailed how much her brother’s death impacted her.
“I wish someone would just wake me up. I feel like I am in a nightmare,” she said.
She added that she and her family will never be who they were before Joseph was murdered. However, despite her rage for Salazar, she said something that might surprise some.
“I forgive you,” she said.
That theme was agreed upon by her sister Janine Thompson, who said she could never hate anyone. “I do not know what drives a man to hate. I should hate you, but I don’t,” she said.
Keleher’s family also expressed anger that Keleher was called a child molester.
Before a five-minute pause, state council addressed the judge. District Attorney Neil Carson said point-blank that Salazar has done nothing but come up with excuses throughout the trial.
“And have we ever heard him apologize?” he asked rhetorically before answering his own question:”No.”
“He has failed to take an ounce of responsibility.”
He asked the judge for the maximum penalty and requested that those years be served consecutively with the additional three years for the tampering with evidence charge.
After the break, Salazar addressed Eichwald. First Salazar claimed that his actions were due to mental health problems. He referenced his wife’s and son’s deaths, saying he was not well at the time. As he spoke, he took pauses to clear his throat and at times sounded like he might cry. Then, his mood changed to somewhat angry.
“That councilor is a piece of shit. He’s racist,” he said in reference to Carson.
Carson got up to defend himself, saying that this was just Salazar’s attempt at more excuses.
Salazar sat back down and awaited the judge’s sentence. Eichwald had a few words of his own to say.
“You became the judge, jury and executioner,” he said. “You left a lot of damage out there.”
He added that Salazar has made excuse after excuse for the murder.
Salazar will be 77 years old when he becomes eligible for parole if the verdict is not overturned on appeal.
