Former Hobbs officer sentenced

Staff report

A former Hobbs police officer was sentenced this week in a case handled by local District Attorney Andrea Reeb.

According to a release from Reeb’s office, Arnulfo Rojas, 37, pleaded no contest to a count of tampering with records, a fourth-degree felony.

According to the release:

• Reeb prosecuted due to a conflict with the local prosecutor’s office.

• The trial was scheduled for Monday in Lovington District Court prior to the plea agreement.

• Rojas, alleged to have changed a police report to show he was the arresting officer, was sentenced to 18 months supervised probation and loss of his police officer certification. After nine months, the probation may be changed to unsupervised.

Attempts to contact Rojas’ attorneys, Melissa Sawyers and James Klipstine of Hobbs, were unsuccessful.