By Joline Gutierrez Krueger
TRIBUNE REPORTER

The acting Metro Court administrator and a finalist for the permanent position is no stranger to the other side of the judicial system, having amassed more than a dozen traffic offenses and a conviction for aggravated DWI.

Marc Saavedra, 32, the son of longtime Democratic state Rep. Henry "Kiki" Saavedra of Albuquerque, also has repeatedly failed to show up in the very court he works for but has rarely paid fines on offenses dating to 1993.

Saavedra, who has held the interim position since July, has also been arrested once for disorderly conduct, at least twice for careless driving and numerous times on charges of driving either without a driver's license, a license plate or insurance, court records indicate.

In nearly all cases, Saavedra received deferred sentences and has fines waived as long as two years after being cited. Even for parking violations, the common reason listed was that the officer did not show up in court, records indicate.

"This is a picture of someone who doesn't respect the law," said Keesha-Maria Ashanti, a former Metro Court judge now with the DWI Resource Center's Victims' Rights Project.

But Metro Court Presiding Judge Judith Nakamura said the charges have been dealt with appropriately, and she questioned why they are being rehashed this week, just as interviews are being conducted for the court administrator position.

"This is silly, and it sounds like somebody has some ax to grind," Nakamura said. "It's just immoral. It just sickens me."

Nakamura called Saavedra a very talented young man. She would not say how many finalists besides Saavedra are vying for the court administrator job.

Saavedra said no rules were bent or favors granted because of his position at Metro Court or as the son of a powerful lawmaker.

"I did everything I needed to do," he said. "I've never gotten any special treatment."

Saavedra said he spent two days in City-County Jail after his arrest Sept. 27, 1997, on charges of aggravated DWI, careless driving, suspended license and no insurance.

Court records indicate, however, that he posted $1,000 bond the same day of his arrest.

Ashanti presided over his case, finding him guilty of all charges and fining him $114, later giving him an extension to pay it off.

Saavedra said the DWI occurred six years ago when he was young and that it helped him understand the importance of DWI programs that he has since lobbied for.

"I believe I've been able to lobby for close to $1 million in DWI money for programs both for Metro Court and statewide," Saavedra said. "I've worked side by side with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and I'd have no problem calling Nadine (Milford) right now and telling her about my arrest."

Milford, perhaps the state's most well-known advocate against drunken driving, confirmed she has worked closely with Saavedra but said she has yet to get that call.

"I have not been informed of any of this," she said. "I wished I had been."

Saavedra's DWI conviction is especially grating to supporters of ousted court administrator Toby Martinez, whose termination July 1 from the job he held for eight years was attributed then to an indictment a week before for domestic violence against his former wife.

Martinez, who has said his actions were for self-defense in the scuffle with his ex-wife in 2002, is scheduled to go to trial March 22.

"Toby doesn't have a conviction. He hasn't gone to trial," Ashanti said. "This guy (Saavedra) has a conviction. How fair is that?"

Saavedra said his situation is different from Martinez's in that his was a misdemeanor offense and he was not the court administrator at the time.

"With Toby's, it's a felony indictment, and he was an employee of the court," he said.

Saavedra also said Martinez's firing was not based on the indictment alone. Nakamura said other reasons existed for Martinez's termination.

"But it's a personnel issue, and I'm not going to discuss it," Nakamura said, adding that the decision to fire Martinez was a decision of the majority of Metro Court judges.

"I don't have the ability to hire or fire," she said.

Martinez's attorney, Billy Blackburn, insisted his client was told he was being terminated because of the indictment, even though Nakamura had assured both him and Martinez that no action would be taken.

"Toby was a faithful employee over there and did everything that was requested of him," Blackburn said. "The only thing that came up as to why he would be terminated was this indictment."

Saavedra's brushes with the law are similar to those of his younger brother, Randy Saavedra. A local TV station in 2001 uncovered 36 citations dating to 1989 for the younger Saavedra, then the finance manager for the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office.

Charges included DWI, speeding, having a suspended driver's license and having no registration or insurance.

Again, most citations resulted in warrants after Randy Saavedra failed to appear in court but few fines were issued, the TV station reported.

Marc Saavedra's record of traffic offenses

Careless driving, failure to carry proof of financial responsibility: Nov. 14, 2002. Bernalillo Magistrate Judge Mary Humphrey orders driving school. Time extension granted to May 29, 2003.

No insurance: July 2, 2002. Pleads not guilty. Judgment deferred, fines waived by pro tem judge.

Speeding: Dec. 10, 2000. Fails to appear. Pro tem judge dismisses charge when officer fails to appear.

Parking in prohibited place, failure to park within painted lines, meter expired: Sept. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 14, 1999. Fails to appear. Charges dismissed Feb. 10, 2000, "on merits" by pro tem judge.

Aggravated DWI, careless driving, suspended license, no insurance and contempt of court: Sept. 27, 1997. Jailed, posted $1,000 bond same day. Metro Court Judge Keesha-Maria Ashanti finds him guilty, fines him $114, gives extension to pay. License revoked March 13, 1998, for three months.

Parking without license plate or inspection sticker, expired meter: Aug. 11, 1997. Fails to appear. Charges dismissed by unnamed judge Feb. 25, 1999, when officer fails to show in court.

Disorderly conduct: Sept. 28, 1996. Pleads no contest. Metro Court Judge Marie Baca defers sentence, suspends fines.

Parking time limited by sign: July 9, 1996. Metro Court Judge J. Michael Kavanaugh dismisses charge March 5, 1997, when officer fails to show for court.

Careless driving, no license plate, no insurance: April 5, 1996. Judge Marie Baca finds him not guilty of careless driving; rest of case deferred May 10, 1996.

No registration renewal: Dec. 27, 1994. Dismissed by unnamed judge Feb. 6, 1995, when proof of registration shown.

No driver's license, speeding: Jan. 4, 1992. Fails to appear. Metro Court Judge Theresa Gomez defers charges June 15, 1992.

No insurance: Feb. 16, 1990. Fails to appear. Pleads guilty Jan. 7, 1992, when officer fails to appear for hearing. Metro Court Judge Elizabeth Love finds Saavedra guilty of failing to appear but suspends fines.

Expired license plate: Aug. 19, 1989. Fails to appear. Metro Court William F. Lang finds him guilty, fines him $1.

Failure to yield to approaching vehicle in intersection: Dec. 27, 1993. Also driving on suspended license. Four contempt charges filed for failing to pay fines. Unnamed judge later defers first charge, waives fines. Suspended license charge dismissed.

SOURCES: Metro Court, New Mexico Motor Vehicles Division, Bernalillo Magistrate Court

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