Conspiracy To Commit 1st Degree Felony
Legal Definition
A person commits conspiracy when they agree with one or more persons to commit a felony and one of them performs an overt act in furtherance of the agreement. When the target offense is a first degree felony, the conspiracy itself is treated as one degree lower. Conspiracy is a separate offense from the completed crime and may be charged even if the underlying felony is attempted or accomplished.
Possible Punishment
Basic sentence of 9 years imprisonment; fine up to $12,500. A mandatory period of parole follows release. Because conspiracy is punished one degree below the target offense, conspiracy to commit a first degree felony is a second degree felony.
Local Context
Under New Mexico law, conspiracy is always one degree less serious than the target crime. The overt act requirement means that mere agreement is insufficient; at least one conspirator must take a concrete step toward committing the felony. Common first degree felony targets include trafficking controlled substances, kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration, and armed robbery.
Holds, Warrants, and Procedural Bookings
Not everything in a jail roster is a fresh local crime. This category covers procedural bookings: fugitive-from-justice holds for other states, probation and parole violations, courtesy holds for other agencies, and catch-all offense codes. The person may face no new Doña Ana County charge at all.
Failure-to-appear and bench-warrant bookings are the most common procedural entries in our data. They resolve through the court that issued the warrant, which is why the fastest path out usually runs through a motion to quash rather than anything that happens at the jail.
Related Guides
Bench Warrants and Failure to Appear in New Mexico: How a Missed Court Date Becomes a Booking
What a bench warrant is, how it differs from an arrest warrant, why FTA bookings fill the Doña Ana County jail log, and how to clear a warrant before arrest.
Jail vs. Prison in New Mexico: Why Everyone in Our Booking Feed Is in Jail
County jail and state prison are different systems. Who goes where in New Mexico, how sentencing decides it, and what a booking record actually means.
Recent Arrests for This Charge (5)

Las Cruces Man, 18, Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Young Park Shooting
NATHAN RIVAS | 4 charges

Las Cruces Woman, 31, Charged with Non-Residential Burglary
XOCHITL FLORES | 3 charges

Las Cruces Man, 41, Booked on Attempted Murder and Aggravated Battery Charges
JEFFREY CRUICKSHANK | 22 charges

Las Cruces Man, 19, Booked on First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy Charges
DRAKE ARMENDARIZ | 8 charges

Las Cruces Man, 22, Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Park Shooting
TOMAS RIVAS | 6 charges
Information provided for general reference. Statutory text is summarized and may not reflect the most recent amendments. All persons listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.