Portales man sentenced to more than four years in prison

Aug. 2—PORTALES — A Portales man convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a machete, was sentenced on July 27 to more than four years in prison, most of which was enhancements under habitual offender statutes due to two prior felony convictions.

Ninth Judicial District Judge Donna Mowrer sentenced Christopher West, 33, of Portales, to four years, two months and 11 days in prison.

Normally, the sentencing document stated, West's sentence for aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony, would have been only one year, six months, but four years were added to comply with the habitual offender statute.

The sentence handed down July 27, however, also credited West with time served while awaiting trial.

Mowrer also assessed $228 in court fees against West and recommended he participate in residential drug abuse programs and anger management classes while incarcerated.

West was convicted on July 12 by a jury on the aggravated assault charges, according to a news release from Ninth Judicial District Attorney Brian Stover's office.

West was charged in connection with an Oct. 6 incident in which he chased a female victim with a machete, the news release stated. The victim managed to enter her home, lock the door and call 911, according to the release.

Portales police were able to locate West and found the machete hidden nearby.

Methamphetamine trafficking charges aagainst West are still pending in Otero County, the news release said.

West's aggravated assault case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Quentin Ray, and West was represented by criminal defense attorney Taylor Larsen.

Larsen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.