Second suspect in church robbery found guilty

CLOVIS — A year and a day after an elderly woman was robbed at a Clovis church, the second person accused in the incident was found guilty by a Curry County jury, according to a release from the district attorney’s office.

Cherry Anaya, 44, of Clovis, was sentenced to 12 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, unauthorized withdrawal, theft, or use of the card of another, and theft of identity following a one-day trial Wednesday.

According to the release:

• On Aug. 18, 2019, an 88-year-old woman was arriving for morning services at Parkland Baptist Church when Jaime Salazar-Cadena used a handgun to force her to give up her purse. Anaya drove the getaway vehicle.

• Anaya and Salazar used the victim’s debit card and, along with Delilah Kerby, used it at various local businesses.

• Kerby was apprehended later in the month, and Anaya and Salazar-Cadena were apprehended Oct. 7.

• Salazar-Cadena pleaded guilty to armed robbery in March and was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by five years of probation. Kerby was scheduled to go on trial in July on charges of unlawful use or theft of an ATM or debit card, theft of identity, forgery and fraud, but a continuance has been filed and a new trial date is pending.

• District Judge Fred Van Soelen presided over the one-day trial, with Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Stover prosecuting the case.

Anaya’s counsel, Benjamin Herrmann, had no comment on the case.