Old Town bar owner frustrated after repeat burglary offender released
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – More than a month after a thief broke into an Old Town bar, the suspect is free to roam the streets until trial. The bar owner, former New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas, is outraged.
The man responsible has a long history of breaking and entering and burglary. Kassetas says people like that need to stay behind bars. “It happened in the early morning hours, someone smashed through the doors, someone by the name of Benavides, Michael Benavides,” said bar owner Pete Kassetas.
Story continues below
Trending: KRQE News Special: The Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI Dismissal Scandal
Community: Old Town bar owner frustrated after repeat burglary offender released
Crime: APD: Suspect grabbed officer’s rifle before police shooting
KRQE Cares: Donate to KRQE Cares Shoes for Kids online
A little over a month after Outpost 1706 was broken into, costing Kassetas, the co-owner, around $3,000 in damages and stolen property. Kassetas has now seen the arrest and release of the man responsible.
The suspect, 29-year-old Michael Benavides, has a long history of breaking and entering dating back to 2014. That includes an arrest a little over a month prior to the Outpost break-in, when he broke into the Manzano Day School, stealing a Macbook, iPad, and charging cables. Many of the cases were dismissed because he was declared incompetent.
“I’m looking at the release of the guy that broke into my business coinciding with the release of APD’s top ten burglary suspects saying, ‘Hey, look, watch out for these people; they are committing a lot of crime in our community’,” said Kassetas.
It’s a frustrating pattern for the former state police chief turned business owner. “How does this individual Michael Benavides go before a judge and history isn’t taken into account?” asked Kassetas.
While some could argue it’s a legislation issue, Kassetas believes otherwise. “What I’m asking for is really just the common sense approach to how we manage people that are repeat offenders in our community how better to manage them then to keep them locked up,” said Kassetas.
After his time in law enforcement, Kassetas understands there are limitations in the court system. “People get a second chance I get that; we all need one in life, but a 22nd chance is completely ridiculous,” said Kassetas.
He says enough is enough. “I wish after 26 years in law enforcement I could just be content with sitting on the sidelines, but I just don’t have a history of that. I want to see the community improve. I want to see the community improve, I want to see the crime rate go down,” said Kassetas.
Kassetas was also a former advisor for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on her gun violence task force. He says his contract there expired, but would be open to continuing to work towards a solution.
Benavides is expected back in court at the end of the month. The case has now been transferred again to see if Benavides is competent to stand trial.
