Acquitted Of Murdering His Wife, Man Heads To Law School This Fall

Where will a recently acquitted murder defendant be heading for law school?

In 2007, the wife of then-police officer Levi Chavez turned up dead, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators concluded that it was a suicide… at first. But as time marched on, investigators shifted their gaze to Chavez, and four years later, he was indicted for murder and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors argued that Chavez had staged a car theft to collect the insurance money (perhaps he should have just left his keys in the car) and his wife was fixing to rat him out.

The local press ate the story up. The trial even had to move about 40 miles away to escape the media attention. Or at least dim the spotlight. In the end, a jury acquitted Chavez.

According to the Albuquerque Journal:

Shortly after he was acquitted of the murder charge, David Serna, Chavez’s defense attorney, told KOAT-TV that his client was taking courses at Central New Mexico Community College and was considering going to law school to study criminal law. Serna also told the station that Chavez was considering becoming a police officer again.

Now he’s making good on those plans to attend law school: this fall, he’ll join the entering class at the University of New Mexico School of Law (#18 in the ATL Top 50 Law Schools):

Chavez in a lawsuit filed last week said he has been accepted into the University of New Mexico Law School’s entering class of [2015]. The lawsuit is targeting the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office deputies who investigated him and other county officials.

Several law students and other people with ties to the school have commented on social media about Chavez’s becoming one of their peers.

Asked to comment about Chavez’s acceptance, the University of New Mexico School of Law issued the following statement through Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid Jeffery Dubinski-Neessen: “Applicants to the University of New Mexico School of Law are evaluated for their potential for academic success in law school and their potential to contribute to our enriching educational environment. This is a rigorous and holistic process in which applications are reviewed by the admissions committee and are considered for admission based on a number of factors.”

So if you’re looking for a study group next year, you might want to consider the guy who’s been through the criminal justice system from both sides.

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Levi Chavez, aspiring attorney [Albuquerque Journal]

Earlier: Lawyer Leaves Keys In $100,000 Sports Car. Dude Steals Lawyer’s $100,000 Sports Car.
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