Clovis man sentenced to 16 1/2 years

CLOVIS - A Clovis man was sentenced to 16 1/2 years in prison after pleading to three felonies Tuesday, according to a release from the district attorney's office.

Lonnie Clark, 31, pleaded to felony charges of burglary of a commercial property, breaking and entering, and receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle.

According to the release, Clark was identified by a Curry County deputy on Jan. 11, 2019, driving a truck reported stolen two days prior. He was located Jan. 18 at a furniture store and arrested by Clovis police. Clark was also alleged to have broken into the same location and stolen $12,000 in tools and equipment three days prior.

District Judge Matthew Chandler presided over the plea hearing and enhanced Clark's sentence due to prior felony convictions. Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Jones prosecuted the case for the state.

Defense attorney Sandra Gallagher said the ruling was fair given the circumstances, but noted cases like this with substance abuse issues are difficult.

"It would be wonderful if New Mexico had resources to treat these things before we ended up here," Gallagher said, "but I've been doing this for 30 years and that's not the case."