Burglary trio has extensive history

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A trio arrested for a burglary that ended with a shooting in Valencia county last week has a long history and according to court records short jail stays.

James Hicks, 24, and Josh Adams, 24, along with 15-year-old Brandi Heald were arrested this weekend and charged in connection with a burglary at a Los Chavez home Wednesday. The trio is accused of shooting at a neighbor who tried to stop them.

Online court records show that Hicks and Adams have a combined 24 arrests in the last six years. Their crimes range from drugs and burglary to resisting arrested and aggravated assault on a peace officer. The longest jail sentence KRQE News 13 was able to find was 18 months for Hicks and three years probation for Adams.

Detectives say Hicks and Adams steal to feed their drug habit. In the last few years they have allegedly been working with Heald, Adams' girlfriend. She has been in and out of the juvenile justice system time and time again.

According to court records Hicks and Adams most serious cases are still pending. In most other cases they were given a plea deal or the lightest sentences possible. KRQE News 13 wanted to ask the judges and prosecutors involved why Hicks and Adams were able to get off so easy. They were unavailable because of the Veteran's day holiday.

Hicks and Adams are locked up on this latest case on a $50,000 cash only bond.

They are facing a long list of charges including aggravated battery, aggravated assault and shooting from a motor vehicle.