Remote Surveillance Trailer in Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jurors acquitted two former Albuquerque firefighters accused of rape. The jury found them not guilty on all counts after about 2 hours of deliberations.

Aden Heyman was accused of raping a woman in 2023 while Anthony Martin was accused of attempting to rape her.

During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutors argued the alleged victim’s testimony should convince jurors.

“She wasn’t even sure she wanted to report it and think about why. No wonder rape is so under reported situations like this. She has chosen…she has chosen to be in this for multiple years,” prosecutor Lisa Vigil-Roybal said

Defense attorneys rebutted, saying the victim lied and that the sex was consensual.

“Today, for the first time in two years, Aden Heyman, Anthony Martin, are free,” said Heyman’s defense attorney Jason Bowles.

Sighs of relief, tears and hugs filled a Bernalillo County courtroom Tuesday after a jury found Heyman and Martin not guilty.

A local woman claimed three men raped her at an apartment in July 2023 when they were Albuquerque firefighters. Angel Portillo is the third man facing charges; his trial has not been scheduled yet.

“Aden Heyman, Mr. Martin, have been through, as you might imagine, the worst ordeal past two years, to have this hanging over their head,” Bowles said.

The trial has been fraught. At one point, the New Mexico Supreme Court stepped in to halt the trial while justices reviewed the defense’s petition to drop the charges and bring the case before the grand jury again.

While the state high court didn’t do that, the attorneys filed a motion that led to Judge Britt Baca dropping the most serious charge, rape, against Martin about a week later.

He then faced an attempted rape charge. Baca also dropped an aiding and abetting charge against Heyman.

“This was a consensual thing. This woman turned on these gentlemen and then made things up to save her own relationship … it was a tragedy what happened to these gentlemen that that has now been corrected by this jury,” said Martin’s defense attorney Ben Ortega.

Both Heyman and Martin’s attorneys said they believe Portillo will also walk free.

“Based on our information, he’s exactly situated as Mr. Heyman and Mr. Martin. He’s also not guilty,” Ortega said.

Back in 2023, Martin retired from AFR, according to APD, and both Heyman and Portillo were placed on administrative leave.

Both attorneys say now the men can focus on their futures.

“There’s no denying that a false allegation destroyed their careers and really impacted their lives,” Bowles said.

“They can finally start putting their lives back together again,” Ortega said.

Portillo’s defense attorney Heather LeBlanc said she believes the same will happen to her client. Telling KOB 4 in a statement they had faith the jury would see through false allegations, saying they are “confident the truth will similarly be brought to light.” Her full statement is below.

Statement from Angel Portillo’s defense attorney Heather LeBlanc:

“We are unsurprised to hear that the jury did the right thing in Mr. Heyman and Mr. Martin’s case. We have had faith, from the beginning, in the jury’s ability to see through the false allegations that have been brought against all three of these men. Mr. Portillo looks forward to getting his case in front of a jury, where we are confident the truth will similarly be brought to light.”

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"Let the professionals do it. You'll have a great firework show," said Matthew Whelan, Albuquerque Chief Administrative Officer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

On Friday, the city of Albuquerque is kicking off the Fourth of July with the Freedom 4th event at Balloon Fiesta Park.

The event will be from 3 to 10 p.m., offering food trucks, kids' activities, live music with headliner singer Hunter Hayes and a fireworks show.

City officials encourage people to join the celebration, adding no fires or fireworks are permitted in city parks, open spaces, or in the bosque due to the drought conditions around the city.

"We're really going to be monitoring the Bosque areas, open space areas in the foothills. With those stage one restrictions, we have no campfires, except within developed recreation sites. We have no smoking, except when you're within an enclosed vehicle," said Albuquerque Fire Marshal Jason Garcia.

However, for those who prefer to celebrate at home, fire officials remind people to have adults present when popping fireworks.

"The most injuries we have usually are with the little sparklers. You normally don't let a kid run around with a flaming stick, but we do it for the Fourth of July, so usually we have eye injuries and burns with those," Garcia said.

Garcia warns people to not use illegal fireworks. On fireworks packaging, if it's labeled warning, it's illegal. If it's labeled caution, it's fine. People caught lighting illegal fireworks could be fined up to $500 and could face 90 days in jail.

Officials recommend that if you're lighting fireworks at home, you have a hose or bucket of water nearby.

For people going out to the Freedom 4th event, transportation will be available.

"There's free park and ride this year. From the Northwest Transit Center on the west side and Dick's Sporting Goods parking lot at Coronado Mall on the east side," said Shelle Sanchez, director of arts and culture.

The event is free, however, parking at the event will be $10.

Officials ask to avoid calling 911 on Fourth of July unless there is a fire or an emergency. Illegal fireworks can be reported to 311 or here.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Dust off those paddles, lace up your sneakers and grab a few friends because more pickleball courts are opening in the Albuquerque metro Tuesday.

The metro’s first indoor pickleball facility will open to the public Tuesday. The 18 indoor courts at Defined Fitness in Rio Rancho will be an addition to over a hundred outdoor courts already in the metro.

“We have the cushion X system, which is really good for the body and the joints. It’s easier to play, longer longevity,” said Leigh Ann Blanchard, the co-owner of Defined Pickleball. “Some people have them, but we have 18. We’ve dedicated the whole facility to that product.”

Defined Pickleball has a café, pro shop and other amenities.

“We also have our clinics, our tournaments. We’re going to be offering lessons from our pros,” Blanchard said, “but it’s going to be a social event, so everyone will be able to make new friends, meet new players, make new groups to play.”

That sporty-social atmosphere is exactly what Calvin Shrader is bringing to Albuquerque’s East Side. Shrader is leading the conversion of an old furniture warehouse into a new indoor pickleball, golf simulator and batting cage facility. They’re calling it “Swing-N-Pickle.”

“Everything you’re gonna do in here has some sort of a swing, either a golf, a bat or a pickleball,” Shrader said.

There is still plenty of work to be done before they open in August. When it does open, he’s pitching it as a one-stop shop for families and anyone who wants to have fun.

“It’s gonna be addicting, because it’s gonna be so much to do. You know, we want them to stay and, of course, we’ll take competitors over here, but we’re definitely more for family,” Shrader said.

The Picklr, the world’s largest indoor pickleball chain, is also setting its sights on the metro.

“We’re very excited to bring a new franchise to Albuquerque and 12 indoor pickleball courts,” said Marty Garcia, the COO of Premiere Pickleball.

The Picklr is converting the old Conn’s furniture store, near Eubank and Interstate 40, into an indoor facility. It is geared toward more ambitious players.

“We will absolutely have a competitive environment. It is full professional style courts that will attract everyone from a social player to a very high level pro player,” Garcia said.

They expect to open the new location in November. Developers say they’re already looking at Albuquerque’s West Side, Santa Fe and Las Cruces.

“It is the fastest growing sports in America, and we believe that it will continue to grow,” Garcia said. “We want to be part of the growth of the pickleball community.”

Defined Pickleball is now open. They’re offering $25 day passes for anyone. Their grand opening is next week.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A woman testified in court Monday, nearly two years after she says three former Albuquerque Fire Rescue firefighters raped her.

“I just remember feeling scared and uncomfortable in general, and just panicked.”

Anthony Martin and Aden Heyman sat in court for hours, watching and hearing their alleged victim recount what happened July 2023. A third firefighter, Angel Portillo, is also charged but not on trial yet.

The victim says it started with a golf event. Then, two of the men invited her to their pool complex. That’s when the third firefighter came over. The woman testified they were all drinking.

“I was connected to my body enough to have memory, pieces of memory. So I was connected to my body, but I also was still not fully sober.”

In court, prosecutors played body camera footage. KOB 4 cameras weren’t allowed to film it to keep her identity anonymous. But, in it, she says two of them taught the third “how to rape.”

“He was, like, coaching him on how to rape me. It was almost like he was trying to make love to me, and he was holding me down while the other guys were watching.”

The body camera also revealed before the alleged rape, the victim said she “hooked up” with one of the men.

As the defense questioned the victim, they showed a photo of her kissing Heyman, and went back to her definition of hooking up, which she previously said could include penetration.

The trial will pick up Tuesday, and is scheduled to last through Wednesday.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Firefighters with Albuquerque Fire Rescue are responding to a fire near Eubank Boulevard and Menaul Boulevard in northeast Albuquerque.

According to Albuquerque Fire Rescue, crews responded to an explosion in the 9400 block of Woodland Avenue NE.

AFR crews say two people were taken to the hospital with burn injuries.

Fire crews say the home where the explosion happened was destroyed, and a second home was damaged in the fire. No firefighter injuries were reported.

Fire officials tell KOAT a "large amount" of fireworks was involved in the fire, and those fireworks may have been commercial grade. A cause for the fire has not been determined.

Neighbors told KOAT they heard a loud explosion and ran outside to find the garage door of a home in the middle of the street. They also said two people came out of the home with their clothing on fire.

According to one neighbor, the man who lives in the home sets up firework displays for a living and allegedly had plenty of fireworks in the garage.

KOAT has also learned that the ATF Phoenix Field Division is now the lead agency investigating the explosion.

"ATF is responsible for regulating explosives, including display fireworks, to prevent the mishandling and illegal use of explosive materials. ATF’s regulatory enforcement and investigative programs work closely with industry members to ensure the proper storage and safeguarding of these items," said ATF spokesperson Crystal McCoy in a statement.

The agency has deployed a special agent who is a certified fire investigator and explosives expert.

This is a developing story. Stay with KOAT for the latest information.