San Juan County DA drops assault charges against Ignacio man

San Juan County prosecutors have dropped all charges against Jordan Nunez-McClanahan, ending a case that began with allegations of a pitchfork threat in Middle Mesa and then unraveled when the alleged victim would not keep cooperating.

The San Juan County District Attorney’s Office filed a nolle prosequi order on Sept. 27, 2024, dismissing aggravated assault and harassment charges against the 40-year-old Ignacio man. The dismissal came after James Morrow did not appear for a scheduled witness interview and did not cooperate with prosecutors, raising the central accountability question in the case: whether the evidence failed, the witnesses disappeared or the prosecution decided it could not move forward without stronger support.

Court records tied the case to a May 3, 2024 confrontation on County Road 4018 in Middle Mesa. Those filings said Nunez-McClanahan was chasing Morrow with a pitchfork and also had a shovel and chainsaw during the dispute. Morrow told investigators he feared for his safety and believed Nunez-McClanahan had threatened to kill him. Two witnesses reportedly told investigators they heard the threats as well.

The case moved quickly through the courts. Nunez-McClanahan was released from the San Juan County Detention Center on May 6, 2024, and Magistrate Stacey Biel signed a no-contact order. By June 3, 2024, when he appeared for arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Michael Sanchez told the court that Nunez-McClanahan had picked up an additional harassment charge and had an outstanding warrant. District Judge Daylene Marsh ordered him to check in with the bailiff and not leave the courtroom.

The conflict did not end there. On May 26, 2024, Morrow contacted the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office again, saying Nunez-McClanahan had been terrorizing him and blocking the exit to his property. According to the arrest-warrant affidavit, Morrow provided video showing Nunez-McClanahan’s vehicle blocking the driveway exit.

The dismissal underscores how dependent assault cases can be on witness participation, even when police reports, court records and video evidence initially describe serious allegations. In New Mexico, prosecutors describe a nolle prosequi as a dismissal that is generally without prejudice, meaning charges can be refiled if a case is strengthened later. For now, though, the Middle Mesa case has been closed without a criminal resolution.