New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said Friday he is taking over two cases dismissed by McKinley County District Attorney Bernadine Martin, following concerns about her management and failure to prosecute.

"One is a sexual assault case, it's pretty violent. The other was an open count of murder, [and they] were dismissed for conflicts but never reassigned," Torrez told KOAT.

In October 2023, Valentino Roderick Johnson was charged with criminal sexual penetration, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, aggravated DWI, reckless driving and possessing an open container.

According to court documents, McKinley County deputies responded to a car crash, finding Johnson very drunk and on top of a woman who was screaming for help. Johnson was arrested and faced six separate criminal charge

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