Former deputy’s sentencing delayed

Sentencing for a former Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputy convicted of criminal sexual penetration has been delayed at least 60 days while the defendant undergoes a diagnostic evaluation.

Ninth Judicial District Judge Ted Hartley agreed to the evaluation for former Deputy Gary Adkins during court proceedings Thursday at the Roosevelt County Courthouse.

Adkins, 46, faces a maximum of seven years in prison under a plea agreement. The minimum punishment would be probation, officials said.

District Attorney Matt Chandler said Adkins will be transported the New Mexico Department of Corrections in Los Lunas and the sentencing hearing will be rescheduled during his evaluation.

Adkins was not in the courtroom when Thursday’s proceedings began. His attorney, Michael Garrett of Clovis, said Adkins had not been informed of the court date, though Chandler disagreed.

Adkins, who had been free on bond, arrived about 50 minutes late, after Garrett called him.

Adkins was immediately taken into custody and will be transported to the Department of Corrections.

Neither Garrett nor Adkins’ family members would comment after the court proceedings.

Ashley LeMier, the 23-year-old victim, said she expected sentencing to take place on Thursday and was frustrated when it was delayed.

“The way I see it, it’s because he’s a police officer and he has some pull in this town,” she said.

The incident occurred last July 1.

Officials said Adkins took LeMier from her jail cell and placed her in his patrol car. Adkins then drove her to a rural county road where they had sex, Chandler said.

LeMier, in jail on drug charges, reported the incident to New Mexico State Police, Chandler said. Adkins resigned from the Roosevelt County Detention Center after the incident.