Solomon Peña, Failed Republican Candidate for New Mexico’s State House, Indicted on 14 Criminal Counts

On Monday, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office announced that a grand jury had indicted Solomon Peña, a failed Republican candidate for New Mexico’s state House, on 14 criminal counts. The charges include three counts of criminal solicitation to commit shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, two counts of conspiracy to commit shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The indictment comes after Peña was arrested by Albuquerque police on January 16th, more than a month after shots were fired at the home of a county commissioner on December 4th. Peña has been described by police as the “mastermind” behind the attacks.

The attacks, which targeted Democratic state and local lawmakers’ homes and businesses, have been widely condemned by officials in the state. In a statement, Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez said, “This indictment sends a strong message that we will not tolerate violence or threats of violence against elected officials or anyone else in our community.”

Peña had previously run for New Mexico’s House District 14 in the 2020 election, but lost to the Democratic incumbent. He had also been involved in a number of other political campaigns in the state.

The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office has not yet released any further details about the charges against Peña or the evidence that led to the indictment. The case is now being handled by the District Attorney’s Office and a trial date has not yet been set.