Stallings Convicted of Murder

Monday, December 4, 2017 at 8:34 PM

With a guilty verdict of 1st Degree Murder, Rick Stallings is facing a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.

From the San Juan Co. Sheriff's Office:

Rick Stallings was found guilty this morning in District Court of 1st Degree Murder (Willful & Deliberate), Aggravated Burglary with a Deadly Weapon (2nd Degree Felony) and three 4th Degree Felonies; the Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, Theft of a Firearm and Theft of a Credit Card. Stallings is currently pending trial for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Battery on a Peace Officer. With a guilty verdict of 1st Degree Murder, Stallings is facing a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
On October 1st of 2015, Karen Cugnini was found murdered in her own home. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office immediately began an investigation with Detective Robbins leading the way. After a lengthy two years of investigating and prolonged court proceedings, in which Stallings chose to represent himself, justice was finally served.
Undersheriff Ferrari is quoted saying, “Stallings is no longer a threat to our community, thanks to the great work of Detective Robbins, the entire SJCSO Detectives Division and the District Attorney’s Office. We hope the Cugnini family has some peace and relief with the guilty verdict.”
The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank everyone that assisted with this case and we would also like to thank the family of Karen Cugnini for staying strong and dealing with Stallings during the trial.

More from Local News

2026 NM Primary Local (Unofficial) Results

We'll be updating this page with results throughout the evening on Tuesday, June 2, 2026: These are the unofficial results of the contested NM Primary races in San Juan County on June 2, 2026:
Remainder of Piñon Hills Blvd. Extension Fully Funded

Phase III of the $30 million project includes $27 million in state funds and $3 million in matching funds from San Juan County to fully fund and complete the project by 2029.
Durango Begins Water Restrictions

Irrigation for lawns accounts for 70% of Durango’s water usage, so outdoor landscape will be limited to three days a week between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. for both residential and commercial users. Odd-numbered addresses are restricted to watering on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Even-numbered addresses are restricted to watering on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Outdoor landscape irrigation is prohibited during all hours on Wednesdays.
Police ID Suspect and Officers involved in Hines Rd. Shooting

Upon arrival, officers observed a male and female walking who matched the provided descriptions. Officers gave commands for Leon Quintana (27) to place his hands on his head and walk backward toward them. During the encounter, Mr. Quintana hesitated and shifted his movements while officers continued giving commands. He then produced a firearm and fired a shot toward officers, striking an officer’s patrol car. A second shot was also fired.
2024 Election: San Juan County Contested Races

These are the unofficial election results from voting on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 of the contested races in San Juan County, NM.