Journal executive editor resigns following shoplifting incident in Rio Rancho

The Journal's executive editor resigned on Thursday after being released from jail on a shoplifting charge in Rio Rancho.

Publisher William P. Lang announced Thursday that Patrick Ethridge "is no longer employed by the Albuquerque Journal."

"This has been an unfortunate and confusing time for all of us," Lang said in a statement. "Patrick is a talented writer and hard-working editor, but given the circumstances, moving forward without him was our only realistic course of action. We are grateful for his significant contributions during his short tenure here."

Ethridge became executive editor and vice president of the Journal on May 30, 2023. With 26 years of experience with newspapers, Ethridge’s most recent role before the Journal was as editor and publisher of the Beatrice Daily Sun in Nebraska.

Lang placed Ethridge on mandatory leave on Oct. 27 after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge from an Aug. 24 incident at a Walmart in Rio Rancho.

On Sept. 25, a Rio Rancho Municipal Court judge sentenced Ethridge to 90 days in the Sandoval County Detention Center with 80 days suspended.

The Journal was not made aware of the allegations against Ethridge until he had already been booked into jail on a 10-day sentence.

Police said Ethridge allegedly skip-scanned more than $100 worth of items in the Walmart self-checkout — pretending to scan items without paying, according to police.

Although he initially pleaded guilty, on Thursday Ethridge withdrew that plea and pleaded no contest before being released from jail.