Man's bond doubled after victim dies

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque man originally charged with aggravated battery found out in court Saturday that the case is much more serious after the judge informed him that the victim died.

The news of the victim's death surfaced the same day of the shooting, but it was new news to the judge and the suspect Saturday in court.

Javier Rosalez, 35, was originally called up in court on a battery charge. He was sent back to his seat and then the Judge Daniel Ramczyk called him up again.

Rosalez was arrested very early on Dec. 24 after a shooting on the 6600 hundred block of Cochiti SE.

When officers arrived, they found man in his 30s who had been shot in the face. Police have not released his name.

Investigators said that the victim and Rosalez had been fighting.

According to police, Rosalez actually dragged the victim's body from inside his trailer out into the parking lot.

At first Judge Ramczyk set his bond at $500,000 cash only, but upped it to $1 million cash only after he learned the victim was dead.

"This case has now gone up to an even more serious level," Ramczyk said.

A spokesperson with the district attorney's office said additional charges are now pending for Rosalez.

Prosecutors will soon present the case to a grand jury to increase the aggravated battery charge to murder.

Rosalez is still in custody at the Albuquerque Metropolitan Detention Center.