The Latest: Judge says man who killed family to stay jailed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Latest on the case of a New Mexico man who killed five family members as a teen (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

A New Mexico judge has ordered a young man who killed five family members as a teenager to remain in custody while his juvenile sentence is reviewed.

Judge Michael E. Martinez on Thursday ordered Nehemiah Griego to be transferred immediately to an adult jail pending the outcome of his case.

Griego previously had been set for release on Tuesday, his 21st birthday, under a ruling two years ago that found he had been receptive to treatment while in state custody and could be sentenced as a juvenile.

But an appeals court recently overturned that sentence, resulting in a new round of hearings. Those proceedings could take weeks, if not months.

Prosecutors sought to have Griego remain in custody until his case is resolved. Griego’s attorneys argued that he has received hundreds of hours of individual, group and family therapy while in state custody.

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This item corrects that Judge Michael E. Martinez presided over the court hearing, not Judge John Romero.

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11:53 a.m.

A New Mexico judge is expected to weigh whether to release a man who killed five family members as a teenager, while his juvenile sentence again comes under review.

A Children’s Court hearing for Nehemiah Griego is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Albuquerque. He previously had been set for release on Tuesday, his 21st birthday, under a ruling two years ago that found he had been receptive to treatment while in state custody and could be sentenced as a juvenile.

But an appeals court last week overturned that sentence, resulting in a new round of hearings in Griego’s case.

The court proceedings could take weeks, if not months. And prosecutors want a judge to order Griego remain in state custody until his case and sentence is resolved.