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RIO RANCHO, N.M. — The district attorney in Sandoval County will seek sentences of life without parole for two suspects charged in the shooting death of Rio Rancho police officer Gregg “Nigel” Benner.

District Attorney Lemuel Martinez notified the court of his intent to seek a sentence of life without parole for Andrew Romero and Tabitha Littles just before the pair were brought in shackles to Judge Louis McDonald’s courtroom for their arraignment Monday.

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They both pleaded not guilty.

Benner’s wife, Julie, and about a dozen fellow Rio Rancho police officers watched as McDonald accepted the pleas and kept the bond at $5 million for Romero and $1 million for Littles.

During the proceeding, prosecutors said Benner didn’t even have a chance to pull his gun before being shot by Romero, and that Romero was then ready to “shoot it out” with Albuquerque police officers who corralled and arrested him a few hours later.

Martinez’s motion for life in prison cites one of seven “aggravating circumstances” in state law that allows defendants to be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. That circumstance is that Benner, a well-respected officer and Air Force veteran, was acting in the “lawful discharge of an official duty when he was murdered,” Martinez wrote in the notice.

Since New Mexico’s prohibition of the death penalty, most convicted murderers are eligible for parole after 30 years if they convince the state parole board that they deserve to be released.

But Martinez pointed out that, even if Romero, 28, is convicted and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, he is still facing prison time of at least 30 years for murder, in addition to 88½ years for additional charges. Martinez is also asking that Littles, 30, who is being charged with homicide (accessory), be sentenced to life without parole if convicted.

The notice was announced Monday when prosecutor Barbara Romo was arguing why the defendants needed to stay in jail while they await trial and that their high bonds should remain unchanged. The defendants’ attorneys – Todd Farkas and Stephen Taylor for Romero and Barrett Porter for Littles – declined to argue for a lower bond.

Romo cited Romero’s criminal history, the nature of the offenses and his potential danger to others as reason for keeping his bond at $5 million. She said he made it clear he was a flight risk, and a dangerous one, and said he was “ready to shoot it out with APD” in Albuquerque after fleeing from the scene of Benner’s death.

Littles has several pending charges, as well, and Romo asked that her bond remain at $1 million. Porter said he would prefer to argue for a lower bond after reviewing investigation documents, like police reports, which he said he had not seen before the hearing.

Romo also asked that a trial date be scheduled for 14 to 16 months from now. Martinez said that is because he wants to push the high-priority case through the court system as quickly as possible.

“It’s the most important case we have in our office,” Martinez said in an interview after the arraignments.

On May 25, officer Benner was shot and killed during a traffic stop. Police later arrested Romero, who told police that he shot at the officer, and Littles, who police said had an opportunity to warn Benner that Romero intended to shoot him.

The pair told investigators they drove to Rio Rancho with the intention of committing burglaries. That’s when they encountered Benner, who pulled them over.

He became the first police officer shot and killed on duty in the city’s history.

Romo said during the hearing Monday that Benner didn’t have an opportunity to draw his weapon before being shot.

McDonald scheduled the next hearings for Romero and Littles for later this year.