Former APD officer found not guilty in wife’s death suing ValCo. detective who allegedly pushed case against him

Levi Chavez, the former Albuquerque Police Department officer who was found not guilty of killing his wife, has filed a federal lawsuit against a Valencia County detective involved in the investigation.

Read the full lawsuit here.

The 2007 shooting death of Chavez’s wife, Tara, was first ruled a suicide.

Chavez was later charged with her murder in 2011, then found not guilty.

The lawsuit says Detective Aaron Jones was so set on blaming Chavez he ignored steps in the investigation.

It also claims Chavez was charged without probable cause.

One of the defendants, former sheriff’s Detective Aaron Jones, said he did his job but wishes he and other investigators did a better job of preserving evidence.

Jones issued a statement to KOB Friday. He could not be interviewed because he is currently out of state. The statement reads as follows:

“I stand by what I did and would do it again..I make no apologies for doing my job. The only people I apologize to are the Cordova Family and Tera’s children for them constantly having to relive this nightmare.

I also wish that we (VCSO) had done a better job that night preserving evidence.

If I had a vendetta I would have filed a criminal complaint against him and arrested him myself.

I didn’t, I let the case go through a number of other channels including the NM state police, the district attorney and a grand jury.

I was as surprised as anyone that the case was being taken to trial. It was long after I had left the department.

Tera  Cordova – Chavez death was assigned to me and was my responsibility to look into as a sworn public servant. I had an obligation to do the best I could for her, with what I had to work with.  I did the best I could to be a voice for her and her family.

I will always be saddened by this case that I was entrusted with, no matter what the outcome.

We will all have to stand in front of the ultimate judge, God Almighty, some day.

I am ready for that day with a clear conscience. I don’t know if other people can say the same”

Originally published for KOB.com.