Suspect found competent

CLOVIS — A man accused of killing a coworker at a Curry County dairy in 2018 has been found competent to stand trial.

Jose Flores Espana, 32, of Texico, was booked into the Curry County Detention Center Wednesday, and faces a murder charge in connection to the death of Mairon Franco Rodriguez, 23, of Texico.

According to court documents, various witnesses told law enforcement they saw Flores Espana shoot Rodriguez, and that the two had an argument the prior month. Flores Espana top investigators he carried a gun for protection, and without admitting to the shooting said the incident was a matter of self-defense.

Flores Espana was found not competent to stand trial in 2019, with the order stipulating a new competency hearing would be held every two years. The first such hearing was held last month, and Flores Espana was ruled competent to stand trial.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said there are no hearings on the docket for the next 60 days involving Flores Espana.

“We’ll see if we can resolve it or if we’ll have to go forward with a plea,” Reeb said.