Ohio man gets life in prison for New Mexico officer's death

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A 39-year-old Ohio man who pleaded guilty to killing a New Mexico police officer last year has been sentenced to life in prison. State District Judge Douglas Driggers on Thursday to sentenced Jesse Denver Hanes for the Aug. 16 shooting death of Hatch policeman Jose Chavez during a traffic stop. Under the terms of a guilty plea agreement, Hanes will serve the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hanes also recently pleaded guilty in federal court to federal firearms and carjacking charges. Chavez was a two-year veteran of Hatch police and a father of two children. Chavez pulled over a vehicle in the farming village of Hatch that was carrying Hanes and two other people. Authorities have said Hanes fired at Chavez and fled.