3rd Judicial District Attorneys Office

C . A . S . E

C.A.S.E (Communities Against Senior Exploitation)

JUNE 2010 VOL. 4 ISSUE 13

New Law Gives Remedies To New Mexicans To Fight ID Theft

On May 16, New Mexico became the most progressive state in the country as it protects the rights of individuals victimized by Identity Theft. Currently, citizens are nearly powerless to fight to clear their records after they have been victimized by criminal Identity theft. The consumer must spend, on average, 200 work hours to prove that they are not guilty. However, NM now recognizes that it is a right to be presumed not guilty of the wrongdoing until, and unless, proven before a neutral third party, usually a Court. Under the new law, a citizen may DEMAND that an erroneous credit bureau notation be removed from his credit bureau file by the on line filing of a Declaration of Removal, and the payment of a $5 fee. Within five days the credit bureau MUST remove the entry, without notation or comment of any kind. The entry is GONE! In order for a person who claims the debt to put the entry back into your file, the accuser must sue and win a judgment against you in your home county, not some far away place like California. Only then can the entry be returned to your file.
Local Phone Numbers
Adult Protective Services: 1866-654-3219 Las Cruces Police and Dona Ana County Sheriffs Dept. non-emergency dispatch (575) 526-0795 C.A.S.E. Program Coordinator (575) 524-6370

Carlos Brad Attorney Generals Office Cates, currently an (575) 526-2280 Assistant District Attorney in the Third Judicial DisInside this issue: trict Attorneys Office, was instruNew Law for New Mexi- 1 mental in recans To Fight ID Theft searching, writing, and promoting this Elder Abuse The Silent 2 Epidemic new legislation. Help Color Las Cruces Mr. Cates has a Purple On June 15th long and distin The Heat is Here, guished record of Tips to Keep Safe public service, Daytime Home Burglaries 3 having worked as Spike an Assistant U.S. Attorney and an (Editors Note: The Assistant Attorney credit bureaus are General, in addisuing the State in tion to having Federal Court to served as a New block implementa- Mexico State Legtion of the new islator. law. Until this suit is heard, the provisions of the law Susana Martinez cannot be utilized District Attorney by citizens).

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VOL. 4 ISSUE 13

ELDER ABUSE THE SILENT EPIDEMIC

THE NEW MEXICO COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPORTS:

Each year, thousands of older persons are abused, neglected and exploited by family members and others. Many victims are often older, frail, and vulnerable. They cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet their basic needs.
Signs and Symptoms of Physical Abuse

Bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations. Bone skull fractures Sudden change in behavior.

Open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing. Sprains, dislocations, and internal injuries/bleeding Broken eyeglasses/ frames, physical signs of being subjected to punishment, and signs of being restrained. Self-report of being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated. Caregiver refusal to allow visitors to see an elder alone. Who are the Abusers? It is estimated that two-thirds of all elder abuse perpetrators

are family members, most often victims adult child or spouse. Why don't they tell? Some abused elderly are ashamed of what happened or afraid that if they do speak out, they will be removed from the home and be placed in a nursing home. If you would like a copy of the New Mexico Coalition Pamphlet on Elder Abuse" The Silent Epidemic Please contact Virginia Baeza at (575)524-6370 ext:1161.

HELP COLOR LAS CRUCES PURPLE ON JUNE 15th

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAD), It was established in 2006. The color purple is the official color for (WEAD). Please join the Third Judicial District Attorneys Office and the County of Dona Ana in coloring Las Cruces purple. We need to make everyone aware of the serious crime of Elder Abuse. Help protect our elderly population of this horrific epidemic. On June 15th wear purple to show support of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. GROWING OLDER SHOULDNT HAVE TO HURT

SAVE THE DATE JUNE 15TH WEAR PURPLE LAS CRUCES

Protecting your Money. Finding ways to keep your money safe

THE HEAT IS HERE, TIPS TO KEEP SAFE

Heat safety tips recommended by the National Weather Service: Drink plenty of water. It is very easy to become dehydrated in our desert climate without realizing it. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Both increase stress on the body and actually accelerate dehydration. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Stay out of the sun. Shift strenuous outdoor activities too cooler parts of the day, especially dur-

ing the early morning. Check on elderly friends, neighbors and family often. Elders are generally more susceptible to heatrelated illness. Take advantage of air conditioning when possible. Many homes in southern Arizona still use evaporative cooling (swamp coolers) which are much less effective during the monsoon. If you, or someone youre with, begins to feel tired and flushed and begin to sweat excessively, you

may be suffering from heat exhaustion. Stop any strenuous activities immediately, drink more water, and find a cool place to rest. If someone becomes disoriented, stops sweating, has hot dry skin, or even worse, passes out, that person is probably experiencing heat stroke a serious medical condition. Call 911 immediately! If possible, move them to a cooler location. Provide plenty of water and shade for pets.

Phone: (575)524-6370 Fax: (575) 647-8584 E-mail: vbaeza@da.state.nm.us

3rd Judicial District Attorneys Office

The CASE Partnership Projects purpose is to combat telemarketing and elder fraud through faith-based alliances, community membership and law enforcement with prosecutors. This is a co-project between the 3rd Judicial District Attorneys Office (Susana Martinez , District Attorney) and the County of Dona Ana. Both the DAs Office and Dona Ana County, along with Law Enforcement (including Adult Protective Services) are working to make this county a safe place for our Seniors to live.
Closing the doors on Fraud and Exploitation in Dona Ana

Daytime Home Burglaries Spike

Protecting Seniors from Exploitation through Partnership with the 3rd Judicial District attorneys office, Dona Ana County and the communities of Dona Ana County.

Phone: (575)524-6370 Fax: (575) 647-8584 E-mail: vbaeza@da.state.nm.us

The Las Cruces Police Department has investigated an increased number of daytime burglaries over the past few months where a perpetrator has kicked open the front door to gain entry to a home. Since April 1, 2010 the Las Cruces Police Department has taken 52 reports of daytime home burglaries where the front door of a residence was kicked in. The Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office also has investigated a number of similar crimes and has reported a 25 percent increase in home burglaries over the past three weeks. All of the home-invasion burglaries in question were committed during daytime hours and, in nearly all incidents, only relatively small items were taken during the burglary. Some of the items stolen included wallets, purses, keys and small electronics. Las Cruces Police are reminding residents of some basic safety rules that may keep you from becoming a victim of such a crime.

Keep residential doors and If you have any questions windows locked at all times, please call the C.A.S.E. Proeven when youre at home. gram Coordinator at 575524-6370. Use a deadbolt lock in addition to a traditional springIf you would like to schedbolt lock on entry doors. ule a training for your organization, please contact Keep valuable itemssuch the C.A.S.E. Program Coas purses, keys, iPods, cell ordinator. Trainings can be phones, televisions and adjusted to fit your organiother valuables - out of zation and your schedule. view from windows or Evening and weekend trainscreen doors. ings can be scheduled. Keep a cell phone or landline phone handy, and nearby, when youre at home.

If you have a topic you feel others might benefit from contact the C.A.S.E. Program coordinator with your ideas and a training/ Utilize an audible home seminar can be designed alarm system that is actiand presented to all who vated by motion or when an want to attend. entry door is ajar.
Be a good neighbor and immediately report suspicious activity, or suspicious behavior, in your neighborhood.

Seminars are free and open to the public. Please contact the C.A.S.E. Program Manager (575) 524-6370.

Organization

If you have any information on the perpetrators of these home burglaries you are asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or send a tip via text message to LCTIPS (528-477).