A Las Cruces businessman entangled in an alleged pay-to-play scheme for judicial appointments has contributed more than $50,000 to former Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson and played a role in Richardson hiring a state investment officer who's been implicated in a separate public corruption scandal.
LAS CRUCES - Suspended District Judge Mike Murphy of Las Cruces entered a plea of not guilty Friday morning to charges of bribery and intimidation. He was read his rights; told to give up his passport and not to travel outside the state of New Mexico or El Paso County; and fingerprinted and processed at the district courthouse.