A candidate running for one of three Valencia County magistrate seats says he didn’t resign from a position six years ago in lieu of termination. In fact, he says he didn’t know he was due to be terminated.
According to a 2020 internal affairs investigation, Eric Montano, the Republican candidate running for Valencia County Magistrate Division III, was due to be fired by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office after allegations of an extra-marital affair were confirmed.
The case review paperwork, dated Sept. 15, 2020, shows the recommended disposition of the complaint as “sustained” and the recommended action as “termination.”
Montano submitted his letter of resignation to BCSO, where he was with the judicial operations division, on Sept. 25, 2020. The letter, which was labeled as “hand delivery” noted it was a voluntary resignation on Montano’s part and effective on delivery of the letter…