District Attorney Raúl Torrez Obtains Injunction Against

Albuquerque, NM, Oct. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Second Judicial District Court Judge Elaine Lujan granted Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez’s request for an injunction against the extremist unlawful militia group known as the New Mexico Civil Guard (NMCG).

Judge Lujan’s order prohibits the New Mexico Civil Guard, its directors, officers, agents, employees, members, and successors from organizing and operating in public as part of a military unit independent of New Mexico’s civil authority and without having been lawfully activated by the Governor of New Mexico. Further, the Judge barred the group from assuming law-enforcement functions by using or projecting the ability to use organized force at protests, demonstrations, or public gatherings.

This ruling grants a motion for default judgment filed by District Attorney Torrez following the conduct of the group’s founder during a deposition. Bryce Provance, designated to appear on behalf of NMCG, flagrantly violated a court order requiring the deposition and made a mockery of the judicial process by refusing to identify himself or answer basic questions. Provance also brought hand-drawn images to the deposition that were both threatening and indecent. Of the little information Provance provided during his testimony, he admitted that he destroyed all records for the NMCG, including by pouring bleach on his computer and setting it on fire.

The lawsuit was brought in July 2020 after members of NMCG deployed to a protest seeking the removal of a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate near Old Town in Albuquerque. Wearing camouflage attire and bearing assault-style rifles and other military gear, NMCG usurped law enforcement authority and threatened public safety. In an already tense environment, the NMCG made it worse with its heavily armed presence, a protester unaffiliated with the group shot and injured another protester.

Before the lawsuit, NMCG had held several…