Man is accused of ninth DWI charge

• Chee was arrested Wednesday afternoon by a New Mexico State Police officer.
• The San Juan County District Attorney's Office filed a motion to hold Chee without bond before his trial.
• A hearing regarding Chee's conditions of release is set for 11 a.m. Thursday in Aztec District Court.

FARMINGTON — A man arrested by a New Mexico State Police officer in downtown Farmington Wednesday afternoon is accused of his ninth DWI charge.

Lucas Chee, 37, faces four charges including a third-degree felony count of driving while under the influence of liquor or drugs (seventh or subsequent offense), according to the criminal complaint.

He had a Gallup address and a Shiprock address listed on court documents filed in the case.

An expedited motion for pre-trial detention filed by the San Juan County District Attorney's Office lists eight DWI convictions for Chee.

He has three felony convictions, four misdemeanor convictions and one petty misdemeanor conviction for DWI.

The DA's office wrote in the motion that Chee poses a threat to the community and no conditions of release could protect the community from his actions.

A state police officer observed a vehicle Wednesday afternoon with a non-functioning registration lamp drive past him near the intersection of East Broadway Avenue and South Orchard Avenue in Farmington, according to the probable cause statement.

The officer turned on emergency lights and followed the vehicle, which later pulled over into a parking lot on the 400 block of W. Main St.

The officer approached the vehicle and smelled a "strong odor of alcoholic beverage" coming from the vehicle while speaking to Chee and a female sitting in the front passenger seat, according to court documents.

Chee exited the vehicle and told the officer he drank four cans of beer earlier in the day. The officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol from Chee's mouth while he spoke.

After performing a sobriety test, Chee was arrested and transported to the state police District 10 office in Farmington.

At the office, Chee is accused of refusing to submit to a blood-alcohol test.

Chee's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Farmington Magistrate Court. A hearing regarding Chee's conditions of release is set for 11 a.m. Thursday in Aztec District Court.

He was incarcerated at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center on a no-bond hold as of this afternoon.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.