Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder Mari Felix pleaded not guilty to a single charge of accessory to a crime in the case involving her husband, Martin Felix-Lopez, who has been accused and charged with sexual abuse of a minor. A four-day trial is set for the week of March 31, 2025.
Felix was originally charged with four felonies in December 2023. 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly later lowered her charges to just the single count of conspiracy, which is a class five felony. If convicted, Felix, who is an elected official, could face up to three years in prison and fines up to $100,000.
Felix was arrested on the afternoon of Dec. 21, 2023. The most recent assault on Felix’s child was said to have occurred on Dec. 18, 2023. Alamosa County Sheriff Deputy Sergio Cazares responded to the school after a counselor and principal said Felix’s child had told them they had experienced sexual assault by Felix-Lopez for a number of years.
An arrest affidavit was signed later that day by district court judge Crista Newmyer-Olsen.
In Cazares’ statement, he wrote, “Mari was informed and advised by [them] of the ongoing sexual abuse and failed to report the crime to law enforcement or remove [them] from the harmful situation at hand.”
This case has been continued a number of times throughout the year due to incoming assistant district attorney Wesley Stafford. Felix’s attorney, Michael Martin, wanted to give Stafford ample time to get up to speed, and the court granted the continuances.
In an earlier statement to the Citizen, Felix’s attorney argued ‘gross governmental overreaction.’
After pleading not guilty, Felix waived her right to a speedy trial.
There will be a status conference in November and a motions hearing in January 2025. The four-day jury trial will start at 8:30 a.m. on March 31.