New Mexico AG Announces Guilty Verdicts in Attempted Murder Trial

AG: New Mexico Press Releases

Filed September 11th, 2025

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced guilty verdicts for John Karl O’Brien, who was charged with attempted murder and threatening a judge with an ax. O'Brien faces up to 10.5 years in prison for the felony convictions.

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What changed

The New Mexico Attorney General's office has secured guilty verdicts against John Karl O’Brien for attempted first-degree murder and threatening a judge. O'Brien was found to have entered the Cibola County District Court building with an ax, intending to attack Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos, and had previously threatened attorneys and staff at a law firm. The jury returned two felony convictions.

O'Brien faces a potential sentence of up to 10.5 years of incarceration. This case highlights the severe consequences for threats and acts of violence against the judicial system. Compliance officers should note the AG's strong stance against such actions and the accountability measures taken by the state.

What to do next

Review internal security protocols for court facilities and legal offices.
Reinforce policies regarding threats against judicial officers and legal professionals.

Penalties

Faces up to 10.5 years of incarceration

Source document (simplified)

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New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez Announces Guilty Verdicts in Attempted Murder Trial of John Karl O’Brien, Charged with Threatening Judge with an Ax

September 11, 2025

Grants, NM – New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez today announced that a jury returned two guilty verdicts in the attempted murder case against John Karl O’Brien, who was charged with threatening Cibola County District Court Judge Amanda Sanchez Villalobos with an ax.

“Any threat to a judge is a threat to our entire legal system,” Torrez said. “Threats and acts of violence will never be tolerated. We are deeply fortunate that this attack did not have tragic consequences, and I am pleased that John Karl O’Brien is being held accountable for both his threatening words and his violent actions.”

O’Brien was found guilty on felony charges of attempted first degree murder and threatening a judge, and he faces up to 10½ years of incarceration for these convictions.

At trial, NMDOJ prosecutors argued that on April 8, 2024, O’Brien brought an ax into the 13th Judicial District Court building in Grants with the intent to attack Judge Sanchez Villalobos.

Witnesses told the court that O’Brien had been angry at Judge Sanchez Villalobos’ decision in a civil case. On the day of the attempted attack, he went to the Adams + Crowe Law Firm in Albuquerque and threatened attorneys and staff, stating that he had a gun, that “people were going to die today,” and that he was going to the courthouse in Cibola County to “kill” the judge. In the law firm’s parking lot, a witness then saw O’Brien grab an ax from his roof rack and drive away.

An attorney at the law firm swiftly called the court and warned them of the threat. Judge Sanchez Villalobos was in her chambers inside the building and protected by Cibola County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies when O’Brien entered the building lobby with the ax.

The case was heard before Pro Tem District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. O’Brien has been held in pretrial detention since his arrest and will continue to be held pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.