Man arrested in Pecos in connection with threats made against Lea County judge

LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO (KOSA) - A man has been arrested in Pecos in connection with a threat made against a District Court Judge in Lea County, New Mexico.

According to a news release from the New Mexico State Police, 35-year-old Sebastian Rios-Sierra had sent multiple threatening videos to the judge’s work email.

Rios-Sierra had been previously sentenced by the judge in an unrelated criminal case, said the New Mexico State Police.

Police were able to get an arrest warrant on Friday charging Sierra-Rios with one count of threatening a judge, a fourth-degree felony.

Officials determined that Rios-Sierra was in Pecos through investigative efforts. Authorities worked with the Pecos Police Department to locate Rios-Sierra and take him into custody.

He is currently awaiting extradition back to New Mexico.

The New Mexico State Police thanked the Pecos Police Department for their help safely apprehending Rios-Sierra.

The New Mexico State Police said they take threats of violence against any person seriously and that threats against judges, public officials, law enforcement officers, or any member of the public will be investigated.