Fraud case against Steven Meador advances in San Juan County

Court filings in San Juan County show a preliminary examination was scheduled in mid-January for Steven Michael Meador on felony charges alleging he obtained multiple motor vehicles through false promises of payment. A Notice of Preliminary Examination filed in magistrate court ordered Meador to appear on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 2 at 950 West Apache Street in Farmington before Judge Stanley R. King. The notice warned that failure to appear could prompt the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Prosecutors have charged Meador with two counts of fraudulently obtaining a motor vehicle, both classified as fourth-degree felonies under state law. Court documents allege that on or about September 30, 2023, Meador obtained a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a four-wheeler (ATV) from a Farmington business after providing checks and promises of payment that were later returned unpaid. Investigators also noted a prior reported failure-to-pay incident involving trailers, which appears in the police record.

The preliminary examination stage focuses strictly on whether sufficient evidence exists to bind the case over to District Court for felony prosecution; it does not determine guilt. If the magistrate judge finds probable cause, the matter would move to the Eleventh Judicial District Court for further proceedings. If not, the charges could be dismissed at that stage. As of January 17, 2026, the case remains active and unresolved.

Separate civil filings add a larger financial context. Meador is named individually, along with Optimum Solutions, LLC, in a civil judgment filed in the Eleventh Judicial District Court seeking enforcement of a Texas default judgment that exceeds $670,000. That judgment, if enforced, could carry significant implications for any assets tied to Meador or the named business entity and underscores the scale of related financial disputes beyond the vehicle allegations.

For local businesses and residents, the case highlights transactional risks in vehicle sales and the cash-flow disruption that unpaid checks can cause for small dealers. Farmington vendors that rely on negotiated payment terms may see this as a reminder to verify funds and consider safeguards such as certified payments or temporary holds on vehicle releases.

What comes next is procedural: the magistrate hearing was the first gatekeeping step to decide whether the felony claims advance to District Court. County court dockets and the Eleventh Judicial District will carry further filings if prosecutors proceed. For now, the allegations remain unproven and the community will likely watch subsequent court dates for resolution and any enforcement action related to the six-figure civil judgment.