Updates on Abling and Sisneros Cases

Prowers County Courthouse

The next court appearance for Mikel Sisneros of Lamar will be Friday, September 12, in the 15th Judicial District Court.  Sisneros appeared in court briefly this past Wednesday, August 27, on charges filed in the July 25^th assault against Rudy Ray Munez of Lamar.  A Lamar Police Department investigation into the beating led to the arrest of Sisneros, who at this time is being held on a $50,000 bond for second degree assault.  Additional charges are expected due to Munez’s death while in a Pueblo hospital on July 29.  A competency evaluation issue on Sisneros’s ability to stand trial may be addressed at his September appearance as well as motions to reduce and increase his bond.  The request for the bond reduction was made by his attorney, Gail Morrison, from the La Junta Public Defender’s office.  The people were represented by District Attorney, Jennifer Swanson, who requested a bond increase.  Sisneros is being held in the Prowers County Jail.

Closing arguments for Marla Abling were held in District Court on August 26, the final day of preliminary hearings in her case in connection with the death of Lamar resident, Rory Alba.  Abling has been charged with first degree murder in Alba’s death on January 23, 2013 in Lamar and has been held in Prowers County Jail with bail at $150,000 since her arrest.  Judge Stan Brinkley ruled last October that her case did not meet the standards to qualify for an immunity ruling under Colorado’s “Make My Day” statute as presented to the court for consideration by her public defenders.  Abling will next appear in court on Tuesday, September 30 for arraignment.

By Russ Baldwin