When Jason Hurd, 45, was arrested in 2025 for stealing from an Albuquerque Target location he was already awaiting sentencing for stealing from Target 14 other times.
This week, a Bernalillo County judge made sure Hurd will not be shoplifting again for a very long time. Hurd pled guilty in June to Organized Retail Theft, a relatively new felony charge enacted by the legislature in 2023 to charge multiple smaller shopliftings over time as a larger single crime. The Second District Attorney’s Office, which covers Bernalillo County, and other court documents detail prior charges for an assault on a police officer and possession of an illegal substance during a prior arrest.
On Wednesday, District Court Judge David Murphy sentenced to Hurd 17 years in state prison, near the top end of a 4 to 22 year possible sentence offered by prosecutors during his June plea hearing.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said the successful use of the new organized shoplifting law is sending a message to others involved in similar conduct. “This should send a message to repeat shoplifters that there are serious consequences for these crimes. Our community is tired of organized retail theft, and we will continue holding repeat offenders accountable.”