Chronic offender runs out of chances

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - For years, she's blown off court dates and probation officers and escaped with a slap on the wrist. Now she’s going to prison.

On Tuesday, Albuquerque District Court Judge Mark Macaron ordered Landis Litz, 25, to spend a year at the state penitentiary.

"I really feel the court has no alternative to impose department of correction time," Macaron said.

That sentence was a big change from those handed out by other judges over the years, when Litz frequently would be reinstated on probation after committing a violation. KRQE News 13 has followed Litz's court cases for the past few months.

"She has thumbed her nose at this court's authority and leniency and trust in this case," Assistant District Attorney Gerard Treich said.

Litz has been arrested at least 17 times in her short life. The first time occurred when she was busted for shoplifting at 13 years old.

As an adult she's been arrested for crimes like aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, driving while intoxicated and stealing a car. In April, police say Litz was drunk when she ran a stop sign and almost T-boned an officer's car.

Over the years, Litz has cut off her ankle monitor, declined to check in with probation officers, hasn’t paid restitution and has refused seek treatment for her self-admitted alcohol problem. She appeared in court Tuesday on her fourth probation violation.

Chris Knight, her lawyer, asked the judge for the minimum time behind bars. Her supportive family even told the judge they were ready to send her to a treatment facility in the Four Corners region where they live.

But the judge had a different idea.

"If you are under the influence of alcohol, you are a danger to the community," Macaron said.

Macaron sentenced Litz to the year in prison, the maximum he could impose for the probation violation. He then tacked on 43 extra days for cutting off her ankle bracelet.

Randall Litz, her father, said he hopes the tough sentence helps his daughter turn her life around.

"No father wants to see their daughter being sent to prison,” he said. “Hopefully it will be a wake up call for her and maybe the taxpayer will get a break.”