LOS LUNAS, NM (KRQE) – A religious sect leader and self-proclaimed general convicted of child rape is getting a second chance in court.

The abuse at the aggressive Christianity missions training corps near Grants was discovered in 2017.

Its leader, Deborah Green, was sentenced to 72 years behind bars.

But, Green’s attorneys argued she should get a new trial because of evidence that was not originally presented, including CYFD records showing the victim did not disclose the abuse.

“There wasn’t an order to send to CYFD saying please disclose all the records from the state. And the state disclosed them to the defense. What happened in this case is Detective Chavez went to CYFD, requested some records and got a fraction of the records that existed,” the defense explained.

Prosecutors disagreed, but the judge ruled in favor of the defense, meaning Green will get a new trial.

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