Rancher pleads not guilty to charges

PORTALES — Elida rancher Greg Smith on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to 18 felony charges and was approved for release on personal recognizance.

Smith, 56, was indicted Aug. 8 on racketeering and multiple counts of fraud, embezzlement, issuing a worthless check and attempt to evade tax in connection with his time leading the Miss New Mexico Scholarship Organization from 2015 to 2018.

An investigation in the past year from the attorney general’s office alleged Smith had overcharged and uncompensated pageant contestants while using embezzled funds to further his ranching business.

Smith’s arraignment was in Roosevelt County court Wednesday morning, at which time he entered a plea of not guilty.

Per the conditions of release approved by Judge Donna Mowrer, Smith is not to leave the state of New Mexico without permission from the court. There were exceptions for travel to Hereford for a cattle sale on Wednesday and to Lubbock, though he is “not allowed to be on the Texas Tech Campus,” according to court records.

Smith was represented Wednesday by attorney Marshall Ray, who did not respond to requests for comment.

Smith is scheduled for a pre-trial conference at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 7.