By Roger Lanse

Steven Escobar, 30, of Hurley, appeared again this week, Monday, June 17, 2019, in 6th Judicial District Court, this time for arraignment on three counts of escape from a community custody release program – 4th degree felonies -- and a petty misdemeanor charge for criminal damage to property. The three escape charges, according to district court staff, were for removing a monitoring ankle bracelet while he was under house arrest for crimes committed separately on Jan. 5, 7, and 8, 2019, involving drugs and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon. Hence the three escape charges. The misdemeanor charge was for damaging the ankle bracelet.

According to court documents, a plea and disposition hearing for Escobar is set for July 15, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. (trailing docket) in the Grant County Courthouse. If the parties have not agreed on a settlement, a final trial date will be scheduled at that hearing, a pre-trial order states.

Escobar remains in custody in the Luna County Detention Center on a federal no-bond hold.