DA Won’t Prosecute Former Judge On Rape Charge

By Alex Goldsmith
KRQE
Apr. 01, 2014

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Three years ago, rape and witness intimidation charges brought down a prominent Albuquerque district court judge.

Wednesday, the district attorney in charge of handling that case says there isn’t enough evidence to move forward and that her office will not prosecute.

The case centered around Albert “Pat” Murdoch, the chief criminal district judge in 2011. He had served 26 years on the bench when a sudden arrest forced him to step down.

APD’s case against Murdoch started in July 2011 when vice detectives bought a DVD from prostitute Renae Padilla for $400.

According to a criminal complaint, Padilla told officers Murdoch had paid her for $200 sex acts at his home on eight separate occasions. Padilla claimed Murdoch performed oral sex on her against her will on two separate occasions, one of which she secretly recorded.

Albuquerque police arrested Murdoch the day after receiving that DVD on rape and witness intimidation charges. The latter charge was based on Padilla’s claims she posed hypothetical questions to Murdoch about what would happen if a woman made allegations against him. According to a criminal complaint, Murdoch told her “he would use the police and his connections to take care of the situation.”

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