A New Mexico police officer awarded a new trial following his conviction for killing a Black man who allegedly stole a $2 beer has been sanctioned by a judge in his civil case for deleting text messages.

Las Cruces police Officer Brad Lunsford was convicted earlier this year of voluntary manslaughter in the 2022 shooting death of 36-year-old Presley Eze. But a judge ordered a new trial after allegations of juror bias and an improper juror switch.

As he awaits trial, Lunsford continues to battle a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of Eze's family.

Plaintiffs' lawyers in June requested that a federal district judge issue a default judgement because Lunsford deleted text messages between him, the Las Cruces police chief and fellow officers. Lunsford claims he deletes text messages on a regul

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