More charges filed

CLOVIS — Additional charges were filed Thursday in connection with last week’s slaying of two longtime Portales residents. Police also have released more details about Tuesday’s shooting that left one murder suspect hospitalized.

Stanley Bedford, 41, in police custody since Monday, was charged with two counts of open murder and two counts of kidnapping related to the deaths of Odis and Doris Newman. Authorities would not say why they added to Bedford’s charges, which originally were for possession of stolen property.

Officials also on Thursday said Jerry Fuller was brandishing a pellet or BB gun when he encountered police outside a Portales residence on North Main early Tuesday morning. When Fuller made aggressive moves toward police with the weapon, they shot him three times in the upper body, officials said.

Fuller, 32, is recovering from his wounds in a Lubbock hospital and is stable condition. He is to be returned to Portales “in a few days,” to face charges of murder and kidnapping, District Attorney Matthew Chandler said.

Law-enforcement officials still have not released a motive for the homicides and they have not said how the Newmans died.

Their bodies were found in the trunk of their burned car about 8 a.m. on March 2 southeast of Portales.

Fuller is a nephew of the Newmans. Court records show that he told officials following his arrest that he was present when the Newmans were killed.

Bedford is being held at the Curry County Adult Detention Center without bond. Two other suspects — Cynthia Peninger, 22, and Archie Crawford, 27 — are at the Clovis jail on $10,000 cash-only bonds for charges of possession of stolen property.

Chandler said earlier this week he anticipated additional arrests in the case, but said Thursday he felt confident all those involved in the deaths of the Newmans have been arrested.

All four suspects will appear March 18 at the Roosevelt County Courthouse for a grand jury hearing.

Chandler said he expects to also charge Fuller with two counts of first-degree kidnapping before the hearing. He added that additional charges will not be made public until the hearing.

Peninger, Crawford and Bedford were arrested Monday when they tried to pawn jewelry belonging to the Newmans, officials said. They led police to Fuller, who was located at a duplex on North Main about 7 a.m. Tuesday.

New Mexico State Police Lt. Jimmy Glascock said between 10 and 20 law-enforcement officials encountered Fuller outside the residence and ordered him to drop his weapon, which appeared to be a handgun.

Glascock said Fuller “took aggressive steps, pointing the handgun directly at the officers.”

Three members of the Clovis Police Department — Officer Roger Dial, Agent Robbie Telles and Officer Mike Harmer — fired eight rounds. Glascock said Fuller was struck three times in the upper body.

A police affidavit said a state police agent met with Fuller at Roosevelt General Hospital, where Fuller was originally given medical treatment. According to the affidavit, the agent said Fuller admitted “being involved and present at the murders (of) Odis and Doris Newman.”