Author: KVIA

Rishi Oza

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — According to his agency and his father, Deshawndre Washington was trying to get into the U.S. from Lebanon for his hazing case trial in Las Cruces Monday, but was held up due to the military conflict in the Middle East. He used to play for New Mexico State University.

Washington has been playing in the Middle East for the past two seasons and currently is playing for a team called Sagesse Sports Club based in Lebanon. He played in a playoff game Monday while the trial was supposed to start.

Washington’s agency told ABC-7 that they submitted paperwork before the trial started with statements from both Lebanese officials and the U.S. Embassy stating that he couldn’t travel due to security concerns.

They also told ABC-7 Washington wanted to be in Las Cruces for the trial to prove his innocence. ABC-7 also spoke with Washington’s father, Sean Wright.

Wright said Washington is still trying to get back into the U.S. and isn’t trying to hide from anything.

“Deshawndre’s coming back to the United States. Deshawndre never intended not to come back to the United States,” said Wright. “Deshawndre has always intended to be here to be in front of the judge. He’s never not been. He’s always been. We’re not on no run. We haven’t ran.”

Washington is facing 15 felony charges:

One count of second-degree criminal sexual penetration (aided or abetted by another)

Five counts of false imprisonment

Five counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact (aided or abetted by another)

One count of conspiracy to commit criminal sexual misconduct (aided or abetted by another)

One count of false imprisonment – conspiracy

Two charges of false imprisonment (added and involve a new victim in the case, who was another former NMSU basketball player).

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Armando Ramirez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Carrying more than 90 years of tradition, the Sun Bowl Association announced the 2026-27 Sun Court Saturday. Sun Queen Laynee Stokes, Lady-in-Waiting Karen Carillo and 12 new sun princesses will serve as ambassadors for the Sun Bowl Association and represent the city of El Paso.

The Sun Bowl Association organizes the annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl game.

The Sun Bowl Association contestants are selected based on poise, appearance, personality, communication, and interpersonal skills. As well as the ability to demonstrate knowledge of El Paso and all Sun Bowl Association events.

The association also says this is a great time for young women to promote their city and to volunteer as community ambassadors.

“With a humble heart, I express my deepest gratitude for the city of El Paso,” said Sun Queen Laynee Stokes. “It is a privilege to give back to the city which I owe everything to.”

Stokes is a senior at New Mexico State University pursuing a degree in viola performance, the association said. She’s a guest performer with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras in the region. She’s also a certified paralegal and enjoys volunteering with the community.

Lady-in-Waiting Carrillo is a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso majoring in music and minoring in education. The association said she’s on the path to become a certified music educator. She performed with the UTEP Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic and Concert Bands.

Below are the sun princesses making up this year’s court and the universities they attend:

Ayla Apodaca (UTEP)

Aida Gallegos (Sam Houston State)

Alex Gonzalez (UT Austin)

Arihua Gonzalez (UTEP)

Alaina Guerra (UTEP)

Leah Herrera (UT Austin)

Ali Lopez (Kansas)

Yuky Macias (UTEP)

Ryan Madrid (Notre Dame)

Brianna Morales (UTEP)

Candace Quintana (UTEP)

Lauren Trejo (UTEP)

The Sun Court coronation has been part of the Sun Bowl since the first-ever game played in 1936. The association said the coronation played a special role in the Sun Carnival, a week-long pageant associated with the bowl game.

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged seven people during a targeted operation that ensures compliance with Texas sex offender registration laws. Monday, the sheriff’s office said Operation Adam’s Watch involved the U.S. Marshals Services.

Authorities conducted home and workplace compliance checks for registered sex offenders required to report to the sheriff’s office, it said. Its Sex Offender Registration and Tracking Unit is responsible for monitoring registered sex offenders who reside in the unincorporated areas of El Paso County outside the city limits.

EPCSO said deputies conducted 398 home verifications, 55 workplace verifications and 33 follow-up investigations.

As a result, SORT deputies made two arrest warrants for violations of sex offender registration requirements.

The operations also resulted in these arrests, EPCSO said:

Tommy Jay McCorkle, 44, for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements. No bond.

Keith Baker, 35, for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements. No bond.

Bobby McGilveary, 64, for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements. No bond.

Wesley Frye, 48, for a Parole Violation. No bond.

Ronnie Wayne Padgett, 60, for a Parole Violation (Indecency with a Child by Contact). No bond.

Alberto Lujan, 34, for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 14. Bond totaled $110,000.

Sydney Bryant, 52, for a Parole Violation (Indecency with a Child by Contact). Bond: No bond.

Tommy Jay McCorkle

Keith Baker

Bobby McGilveary

Wesley Frye

Ronnie Wayne Padgett

Alberto Lujan

Sydney Bryant

(Photo courtesies: EPCSO)

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, the El Paso Police Department asked for the public’s help in finding a missing 64-year-old man.

Police said Kit Allen McKenzie was last seen July 30 at the 12400 block of Tierra Arena at 4:30 p.m. That’s in a neighborhood behind a Walmart off Joe Battle Boulevard and Montana Avenue.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue t-shirt and grey tennis shoes.

Police noted McKenzie has missing teeth.

If you know about McKenzie’s whereabouts, call 915-832-4400.

A photo of Kit Allen McKenzie, who police say is missing.(Courtesy: EPPD)

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A 22-year-old man received a 50-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to violent felony offenses that happened over a five-month period, the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Monday. Hekter Carreto robbed a smoke shop, sexually assaulted and employee and left her unconscious behind the business, according to a news release.

On March 28, 2025, Carreto entered a Northeast El Paso smoke shop, attacked and sexually assaulted an employee and left her unconscious. He also robbed the cash register before leaving, the DA’s office said.

For the March 2025 attack, Carreto was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment on three felony offenses of aggravated kidnapping with intent to violate or abuse sexually, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery, the DA’s office said.

At the time of the robbery, Carreto was on bond for spitting on El Paso police officers after an arrest for public intoxication in January 2025, the DA’s office said. He received a 10-year sentence for harassment of a public servant.

After his arrest for the robbery and sexual assault, law enforcement identified Carreto as a suspect in two other incidents: a November 2024 sexual assault of a teenager in her apartment and a January 2025 burglarizing of a Northeast home, officials said.

Carreto received 20-year sentences for burglary of a habitation intend other felony and sexual assault of a child for the November attack, the DA’s office said. For the January break-in, he received a 20-year sentence for burglary.

The district attorney’s office said Carreto’s sentences will run concurrently.

“This Defendant caused profound trauma to multiple victims and demonstrated an exceptionally dangerous and escalating pattern of violence,” said District Attorney James Montoya. “We are proud of the swift work of our team to bring this case to resolution. El Paso is safer with this Defendant removed from our community.”

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Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Electric’s Customer Care team will have two pop-up events to help customers with their electric bills, the utility said Monday. Its assistance comes as many customers’ bills increased this summer.

EPE said agents will help customers understand why their bills increased and discuss payment arrangements and plans. They’ll also discuss financial assistance options based on eligibility.

To get help, you must have a valid photo ID, EPE said.

The first assistance event will take place Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center (6050 Viscount Blvd.). Find the agents in Building B’s foyer.

If you can’t make it Tuesday, EPE will have another event at the same place Aug. 13 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

EPE said residents are seeing an increase in their monthly bills due to newly-approved rates taking effect. One customer told ABC-7 her bill went from around $35 to $182.

Another cause for the increase is seasonal summer pricing, EPE said. That remains in effect through October.

Additionally, EPE is setting planning more events to help customers in Socorro and Canutillo.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A 52-year-old man died after a crash in Las Cruces Saturday, according to the Las Cruces Police Department.

It happened before 10 p.m. near the intersection of Amador Avenue and Esperanza Street, LCPD said. Police went to the area after a crash report and found the man with multiple injuries.

LCPD said a 22-year-old driver allegedly traveled west on Amador in rainy weather and saw the man walking in the road. The driver tried to avoid hitting him, but failed.

The man went to a Las Cruces hospital and later moved to an El Paso hospital, where he died to his injuries, police said.

Police said the driver stayed at the scene and was cooperative with the investigation, which is ongoing.

LCPD said it won’t share the man’s name until his family is notified.

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Armando Ramirez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Saturday, hundreds of people from the Borderland and beyond came to the El Paso Convention Center for the Lowdown Downtown Lowriding Experience.

The event, presented by The Lowrider Lawyers Truck Crash & Injury Attorneys, is part of the 2026 GoLo Entertainment Throwback Tour and featured more than 200 custom vehicles, including lowrider cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and pedal cars from throughout the Southwest, along with live entertainment, vendors, artists, celebrity appearances and activities for attendees.

“For us in the lowriding community, these cars are part of the family,” said Isaac Chiu, one of the Lowdown Downtown Lowriding Experience’s organizers. “They represent years of hard work and bring generations together through a shared passion. We put Lowdown Downtown together to give our community a place to show off its rolling art and celebrate the builders, families and clubs who keep the culture going.”

Attendees also got a chance to meet some celebrity guests which included Aaron Abeyta, known as El Hefe of the punk band NOFX, and Noel Guglielmi, best known for his roles in The Fast and the Furious franchise and Training Day.

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Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Four people were displaced after an apartment fire on W. Picacho Avenue in Las Cruces Monday, according to the city’s fire department.

The Las Cruces Fire Department said at 10:30 a.m., its firefighters responded to a fire on the 1800 block of W. Picacho Avenue. The complex is near the intersection of N. Valley Drive.

Crews found the fire coming out of one of the units. They controlled the fire within 10 minutes, the fire department said.

Adjoining apartments had minor smoke damage, according to LCFD. The cause is still under investigation.

While four people living in the building were displaced, no injuries were reported.

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Mia Tricarico

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As teachers, students and parents prepare for the first day of school with last-minute supply shopping, classrooms across the Sun City may look drastically different this academic year.

Staffing cuts and rising teacher turnover across the Borderland mean fewer educators will be greeting students when doors open.

Data from the Texas Education Agency shows that approximately 820 teachers across El Paso’s three major school districts—EPISD, Socorro ISD, and Ysleta ISD—either retired, resigned, or were terminated during the last fiscal year. That figure represents nearly 10% of the entire teaching staff across the three districts.

The trend reflects a broader multi-year decline. Over the last seven years, full-time equivalent teaching positions across EPISD, SISD, and YISD fell by 10% to roughly 8,400 positions. Total district employment dropped 8% over the same period to 18,200 staff members.

The significant drop in teaching positions raises immediate concerns inside the classroom and across the regional economy:

Classroom Workload: Remaining educators face potential increases in class sizes and additional administrative burdens.

Quality of Education: Parents are questioning how reduced staffing will impact individualized instruction and specialized programs.

Economic Ripple Effects: Local economists warn that hundreds of lost educational jobs reduce overall household incomes, local spending, and municipal tax revenue across the region.

ABC-7 will continue to monitor staffing levels and district resource distribution as the new school year begins.

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