Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Quentin Ray, announced that on September 2, 2024, Jose Villalta, age 25, of Clovis, was sentenced to eight years in the Department of Corrections for Disarming a Peace Officer and Battery on a Peace Officer.

On November 22, 2023, Officers with the Clovis Police Department responded to a domestic in progress on Maple Street in Clovis.  The officers went to handcuff the Defendant, and he began resisting the officers as they attempted to handcuff him.  Jose Villalta hit one officer in the face during the struggle and grabbed another officers taser, preventing the officer from using the device.

The Honorable Benjamin Cross presided over the hearing and sentenced Jose Villalta to eight years in the Department of Corrections which included a four-year habitual.  He will have to serve a 2-year parole period upon release.

The case was prosecuted by Brett Carter, Special Prosecutor and Villalta was represented by criminal Defense Attorney, Blake Dugger of Hobbs.

For more information, please contact the Office of the District Attorney, at 575-769-2246.