Sept. 27—The editor-in-chief of the Albuquerque Journal went to jail this week after being convicted on shoplifting charges.
Patrick Jason Ethridge, 47, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of shoplifting, according to a Rio Rancho Municipal Court database. The charges were filed on August 27.
An inmate roster for the Sandoval County Jail showed Ethridge was arrested Wednesday and convicted of stealing items with a total value of $100 or less.
Court records related to the criminal case against Ethridge were not available Friday, but the Journal reported that the charge stemmed from an Aug. 24 incident at a Walmart store in Rio Rancho.
Police were called to the store by security personnel, who said Ethridge’s sons were acting “disorderly” in the store, the Journal report said.
Police alleged that surveillance video showed Ethridge — who became editor-in-chief and vice president of the newspaper in May 2023 — also skipped some items while checking out at a self-checkout at the store, according to the Journal.
The Albuquerque newspaper reported that Ethridge’s attorney filed a motion Thursday to withdraw his guilty plea, saying Ethridge did not intentionally steal items.
The newspaper’s publisher, William P. Lang, announced in a statement that Ethridge was placed on “mandatory leave” on Friday.
“We do not yet know or understand all the details, but were shocked to learn that he has been charged with shoplifting and sentenced by a magistrate judge in Sandoval County, where he is currently serving 10 days,” Lang said. “At the Albuquerque Journal, we believe in transparency and holding people, including ourselves, to a higher standard. We appreciate your support and concern and will report more information as it becomes clear to us.”
