Man pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide

CLOVIS — A plea of not guilty was entered for a man facing homicide by vehicle charges Thursday morning in District Court.

Other charges for Kyle Mawhorter, 29, of Las Vegas, Nevada, include aggravated fleeing of law enforcement, receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and reckless driving.

Mawhorter was charged in November in connection with the death of Norman, Oklahoma, resident Kori Lynn Woods after allegedly crashing a vehicle on Hull Street and Brady Street following a high-speed chase on U.S. 70 with New Mexico State Police officers.

Public Defender Jocelyn Garrison represented Mawhorter via video conference from the Curry County Adult Detention Center.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Stover represented the state.

Garrison said she and Mawhorter were silent regarding a plea. District Judge Matt Chandler entered Mawhorter into a not guilty plea on behalf of the court.

Garrison requested an OR (Own Recognizance) bond for Mawhorter, allowing him to be released on the condition that he returns for court. She added Mawhorter had no previous history with the exception of a previous driving while intoxicated offense.

Garrison said Mawhorter asked to stay with family in Norman, Oklahoma, if released and would have transportation to return to Clovis for court.

Garrison also said Mawhorter had more positive than negative aspects on his record, including owning a business and receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Las Vegas and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Reno.

Stover said the state was opposed to an OR bond release because of the evidence against Mawhorter.

Stover said Mawhorter was in a stolen vehicle while engaged in a high-speed pursuit with New Mexico State Police officers. The pursuit was terminated, Stover said, after officers determined there would be potential risks to the community. He added Mawhorter turned the vehicle to get off U.S. 70 after the chase, in which he crashed in the Hull Street and Brady Street intersection, allegedly killing Woods.

Stover said the homicide by vehicle charge could rise from the third to second degree if traces of alcohol are found in pending blood results.

Stover also said there is a potential flight risk with Mawhorter residing out of state, as Mawhorter has no considerable ties to New Mexico.

Garrison said other factors should be considered by the court, including no drugs were in possession in the vehicle other than what was found on the passenger’s side, and that Mawhorter was returning to Oklahoma after picking up a victim from a case in Roswell.

Chandler said the weight of the evidence appears in favor of the state.

Mawhorter’s bond was kept at $150,000 cash only. Chandler said if Mawhorter made bond, he would stay in Curry County without contact of witnesses or alleged victims.

Docket call is scheduled for Mar. 27, jury selection for April 3 and a jury trial for April 6.