Valencia-Dean pleads guilty to second-degree murder

RIO RANCHO —  A Rio Rancho woman accused of killing her wife with a shotgun during a fight outside their home pleaded guilty to a lesser charge this week.

Darlene Valencia-Dean, 46, of Rio Rancho, was arrested Dec. 30, 2024, for the first-degree murder of her 44-year-old wife Adelita Valencia-Dean and counts of police and health care worker battery in the 2300 block of Animas Court.

On Feb. 12, Valencia-Dean pleaded down to second-degree murder but kept the battery charges.

According to a plea agreement filed in the 13th Judicial District Court in Sandoval County, the prosecution and defense agreed to a total sentence of 27 1/2 years. It reads that they will require Valencia-Dean to serve at least 85% of the sentence for each offense. After her release, she will be on parole for two years.

Valencia-Dean has also agreed to pay restitution.

At the time of the incident, police were initially called for a shooting in progress. When they arrived to the scene, they found Adelita with at least one gunshot wound. 

A 911 caller told police that they saw Valencia-Dean shoot her. Another witness heard Adelita scream for help. They saw her run from the house after shots were fired, being chased by Valencia-Dean. They saw Valencia-Dean shoot Adelita behind the mailbox, where she was trying to hide. Valencia-Dean told police she remembered firing the gun.

The Valencia-Deans had a history of domestic violence.

After being detained, police said, Darlene Valencia-Dean became irate and kicked one officer in the chest and spat on another officer and a security guard.

Sentencing for Valencia-Dean has not been scheduled yet. The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is 18 years in prison and the batteries combine to 18 years. A life sentence in New Mexico is 30 years.