New details emerge in Murdoch case

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) - There is new information in the rape case against Judge Pat Murdoch.

Detectives seized numerous items as potential evidence from Murdoch's office at the Bernalillo County district courthouse.

The Albuquerque Police Department has executed several search warrants in this case and they say there's still a lot of information they're uncovering.  That includes records they believe show the judge wrote checks to the woman he was allegedly paying for sex.

Murdoch was arrested July 19 after the woman claimed he forced her to have oral sex.  She videotaped one of the sex acts and sold the video to undercover officers. 

This latest search warrant shows police seized a checkbook with payments made to the alleged victim.

Detectives told News 13 they plan on subpoenaing the judge's financial records. 

The warrants also state the judge told detectives who interviewed him the night of his arrest that he had called the alleged prostitute multiple times. He also said he'd contacted a sheriff's detective because he thought the woman was stealing items from his home.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg turned the case over to Santa Fe County DA Angela Spence Pacheco to avoid a conflict of interest.

Albuquerque police will meet with Pacheco's office Friday. That's the same day Murdoch is retiring from the bench. 

APD says there could be more charges in this case for the alleged prostitute and Murdoch.

Attorneys for the judge say he is innocent.  They say that in a rushed investigation, APD ruined the judge's reputation beyond repair, making it impossible for him to remain on the bench.