Ohio Man Accused Of Killing Officer Indicted On US Charges

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — An Ohio man accused of killing a southern New Mexico police officer has been named in a five-count federal indictment. Jesse Denver Hanes of Columbus pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Wednesday in federal court in Las Cruces. The indictment issued Tuesday charges Hanes with federal firearms and carjacking offenses stemming from an Aug. 12 traffic stop during which Hatch police Officer Jose Chavez was fatally shot. Defense attorney Mario Esparza did not immediately return a call for comment on the allegations. The 38-year-old Hanes also faces state charges that include first-degree murder. Gov. Susana Martinez was among thousands of people who gathered Sunday to respect to Chavez. The 33-year-old was father of two daughters and had served on the Hatch police force for two years.