More Local

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
• Former Marine to serve two years in jail for killing Albuquerque robber
• Wilson-Pearce battle for U.S. Senate exemplifies party's disparity

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

SANTA FE — State Police are investigating a report of death threats against a man and his extended family after he lobbied for a ban on cockfighting.

Allen Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he and several members of his family have received threatening phone calls since he called for a statewide ban on the age-old practice.

Family members have been frightened by a vehicle driven close to their homes in rural Valencia County, from which threats and vulgarities were shouted, Sanchez said.

"Death threats, and then just threats that, `We'll get you,' " Sanchez said of the phone calls he received.

"To my family, they went to four different homes, and it's, `We're going to kill you,' and the word `kill' is heard very loud and clear," Sanchez said.

State Police Lt. Rick Anglada said officers are looking into the threats and hoping to find "possible suspects from that area."

He said he was aware of one incident, at the home of Sanchez's mother, that involved at least two suspects.

As part of his work with the church, Sanchez has lobbied this year for a proposed ban on cockfighting, among other bills. The ban passed the Senate on Wednesday - the same night he said members of his family first heard a vehicle drive into their driveways. It happened again Thursday, he said.

None of Sanchez's family members testified at any of the cockfighting hearings, but he said they support his work with the church.

Sanchez thinks there is a connection between the calls and the drive-by threats.

"One of the men in the vehicle was using the same language that was used in a threatening call to me," he said.

Ronnie Barron, president of the New Mexico Game Breeders Association, which opposes a ban on cockfighting, said he hadn't heard about the threats.

"I feel sorry for him," Barron said of the threats against Sanchez. "But nobody in my organization is doing that, I can tell you that."

And, he said, pro-cockfighting lobbyists have gotten mean-spirited calls from the ban's proponents.

"He's not the only one," Barron said.

Sanchez said he won't be intimidated by the threats.

"They are trying to cause enough fear that they think we won't show up to the hearings in the House.

"I'm not afraid," he said.

The bill is pending before two House committees. Gov. Bill Richardson has said he will sign the measure, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, a Do¤a Ana Democrat.