Portales woman arrested for fines files suit against city

A Portales woman arrested and jailed for an overdue library book filed suit against the city Thursday in 9th Judicial District Court.

The lawsuit filed by Lori Martinez, also known as Lori Teel, asks for unspecified monetary damages and a court injunction to stop the city and Portales Municipal Court from issuing criminal warrants to collect library fines.

Martinez's attorney Eric Dixon said that immediately after news accounts of his client's arrest made international headlines, the city dismissed charges against her and another estimated 50 to 60 others with library fines.

"She (Martinez) hopes that the lawsuit will finally bring an end to the practice of using criminal proceedings for collection of library fines," Dixon said.

Dixon said Martinez was falsely arrested June 12 for a variety for reasons, chief among them that she was never informed of the claim she owed the library $35.98. Martinez also denied ever possessing the library materials and said she doesn't even have a library card.

At least two letters sent by the city to a home Martinez hasn't lived in since she was a child were returned marked undeliverable, Dixon said. A bench warrant was issued and when Martinez was arrested, "She was threatened with removal of her children ... was taken in hand-cuffs in front of her children, placed into a sheriff's vehicle and taken to Roosevelt County Detention Center," according to the lawsuit.

Martinez was released the next morning after posting a $610.01 cash bond — $110.01 representing the amount of the fine and a $500 bench warrant fee.

City Attorney Stephen Doerr said he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit and declined any further comment.