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Update

Man accused in Princess Jeanne shooting held in jail

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This article contains a discussion of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Help is available by contacting La Piñon via the 24-hour hotline of (575) 526-3437. 

A judge ordered the man accused in a fatal shooting held in jail without bond during a hearing on May 7. 

Isaiah Joseph Rea, 25, is charged with first-degree murder after police said he shot Steve Sanchez, 34, on April 29. Rea was arrested on May 2 after a short police chase. Rea will likely remain in jail with the no-bond order until the case goes to trial or is resolved via a plea agreement or dismissal. 

According to court records, police believe Rea was with Sanchez and two others at a home on the 1900 block of Princess Jeanne Drive around 3:30 a.m. before the shooting. Witnesses told police they heard Rea say something to the effect of “I thought he wanted me to do it,” referring to another man in the group. One witness said the man refuted that. The motive of the shooting is unclear from court records. 

Prosecutors also pointed to a pending case of Rea’s in which the 25-year-old is charged with sexually assaulting a woman he was dating in 2022. He has pled not guilty and is awaiting trial. In May, Rea was arrested again, accused this time of strangling a woman he was dating during an argument. He pleaded not guilty in this matter as well.

Prosecutors tried unsuccessfully to hold Rea in jail both times. However, a judge found they failed to prove that Rea was dangerous or that no release conditions could protect the public in either case. 

When Rea went before a judge this time, Rea’s pending cases were used as proof of a pattern. Judge Douglas Driggers ordered that Rea be held in jail. 

Princess Jeanne, shooting, jail

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