BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) – A Belen couple was sentenced for stealing more than $10,000 from a general store on the Isleta Pueblo.
According to court documents, on Feb. 3, 2023, Frank Hernandez, 44, entered Chical Haystack and stole $7,285.75 in cash and a check for $3,134.88 from the store’s safe. His wife, Eva Hernandez, 46, acted as a lookout during the incident.
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Frank and Eva Hernandez were arrested on Feb. 13, 2024. During police interviews, Frank Hernandez admitted to the theft, saying he used the money to purchase drugs. Eva Hernandez denied knowing about the theft but admitted drug use.
Frank Hernandez was sentenced to 257 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Eva Hernandez was sentenced to six months of home confinement with GPS monitoring. She will then undergo supervision for 2.5 years.
The couple will have to pay the money back to Chical Haystack, and they are banned from the Isleta Pueblo. They will also have to go through substance abuse treatment, mental-health treatment, and community service.