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BERNALILLO — Rio Rancho Mayor Kevin Jackson and his onetime friend, Tony Oliva, are the recipients of matching temporary restraining orders.
A Sandoval County judge on June 19 scheduled a hearing for July 17 to decide whether to make the orders - which, among other things keep both parties from talking to the public, the news media and one another - permanent.
Until Jackson was fired from his position as director of the nonprofit New Mexico Family Coun cil-Best Choice on May 15, the two men worked together.
The organization is being investigated amid allegations that federal grant money for the organization was misused.
Jackson also faces unrelated questions from investigators about $8,000 in charges billed to a city-issued credit card, mostly for suites and food at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Jackson's wife, Katherine Jackson, filed for a restraining order on behalf of her family against Oliva and his wife, Leonie Oliva, on June 4. In the petition, Katherine Jackson said Tony Oliva left a threatening phone message and told others he wanted to have Kevin Jackson's daughters taken away.
Tony Oliva has denied those claims and in interviews has said Kevin Jackson tried to "interfere" with his employment.
Other conditions of the restraining orders, issued by Judge John Davis, include:
Jackson and Oliva can communicate with each other only through their attorneys.
They cannot come within 100 yards of each other.
They cannot abuse each other or each other's household members. Abuse encompasses physical harm, trespassing, telephone harassment and repeatedly driving by a residence or workplace.
During a June 11 interview with The Tribune, Oliva said the restraining order saga began when his Rottweiler vomited on Jackson's carpet while Oliva's family was staying at Jackson's house earlier this year.
"We told them we'd clean the carpet or buy them a new one, but they told us not to worry about it," Oliva said. "Then I get this nasty e-mail from Jackson about my dog making a mess."
That was shortly before Jackson was fired, Oliva said. He said Jackson blamed him for being fired, and retaliated with complaints about the dog and the petition for a restraining order.
In the interview, Oliva said he called Jackson a coward and swore at him during a telephone conversation after he got the e-mail.
"I lost it," Oliva said.
Jackson was at court during the June 19 proceedings but did not speak with reporters. Oliva attended the hearing and afterward said: "We just wanted the malicious acts to stop, and they have."
John DÕAmato, one of Jackson's attorneys, said he and other members of Jackson's legal team have told Jackson to keep quiet, both about the restraining order and questions about his use of the credit card.
"Everything that I have seen is credibly deniable," DÕAmato said.
The Rio Rancho City Council unanimously censured Jackson on June 13.
DÕAmato said Jackson will wait to break his silence until all the facts have been reviewed.
He also cautioned the media against judging Jackson too soon.
"I hope that if he is innocent, you will spend as much time building his image back up as you've spent besmirching it," he said.
