GRANTS - The trial of Ross Clymo began on April 22 on schedule with a 12-member jury. The Beacon inadvertently reported a four-man jury in the April 21 issue.

District Court Judge Camille Martinez-Olquin announced that her staff has prepared for the trial to go through Monday, one day longer than originally expected, according to the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

“Each count is a separate crime and needs to viewed in that manner,” said the judge to the jury. “The defendant [Clymo] is innocent until proven guilty.”

Opening statements on the District Attorney's prosecuting side were made by Randolph Collins and William Stripp made comments in defense of Clymo.

“There are always two sides to a story,” Stripp said first to the jury.

“Clymo is a cowboy from Fence Lake. He was extremely intoxicated�-he didn't know what he was doing, he didn't know what he was talking about,” Stripp added.

The defense attorney asked the jury to take everything into consideration, including testimony of a person who has reached an agreement with the district attorney's office.

Collins argued that evidence will prove that Clymo is guilty.

Clymo is facing ten counts and could serve up to seven years if found guilty. Allegedly Clymo had a confrontation with Quinton Odell and several others on March 20, 2008. According Collins' opening statements, Clymo punched Odell, pulled out a rifle, struck Odell's truck, stole some equipment and tampered with evidence.

Charges against Clymo include robbery, assault, larceny, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and battery, among others.

According to the District Attorney's office, Clymo was eventually arrested by New Mexico State Police at Uncle Bill's Bar in Reserve because he was driving while intoxicated and was later charged for the March 20 incident at the Norton Ranch. A rifle and shell casing were found in Clymo's truck that fit the gun used at the Norton Ranch incident.

Collins claimed Odell is a “handshake and promise” type of guy.

“In the end, consider all evidence and I will ask for a guilty verdict,” Collins concluded his statement.

The first witness to the stand was State Police Sgt. Pete Estrada. Estrada was dispatched from Socorro to handle the Norton Ranch incident for the Milan State Police office.

Estrada said on the stand that he was familiar with Clymo and Odell, being that they lived in his jurisdiction. Estrada took a report from Odell on the evening of March 20 and was there when Clymo was arrested in Reserve.

Odell was second on the stand late Wednesday and continued to be interviewed on Thursday morning. Several others, including Odell's wife, were expected to take the stand on Thursday.

On Friday, the defense is expected to call their witnesses. Depending on how long that takes and the length of closing remarks, the trial could end on Friday but the courtroom is open Monday just in case.

See Tuesday's Beacon for more Clymo trial news.