Albuquerque Journal

Report outlines details on harassment, more at Game and Fish department

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Former employers at the state Game and Fish Department outlined how the once-thriving department turned into a paranoid department with many longtime employees leaving their jobs—all of this before sexual harassment from the director that led to a settlement of $65,000. The recounting largely follows the story of Sonya Quintana, who spoke to The Santa Fe New Mexican. Quintana received a $65,000 settlement because of sexual harassment from Jim Lane, the former director of the Game and Fish Department. The paper said that the stories by Quintana were backed up by interviews with other current and former members of the department and documents. The most explosive allegations were about Jim Lane, the director who resigned. Lane sent a series of texts to Quintana from when he was director.

Alexa Sandoval

Agreement on higher fees by Game and Fish for access to state land

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A fee paid to the New Mexico Land Office by the Game and Fish Department that allows hunters to access public land may increase by $800,000. State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has contended that the previous amount of $200,000 was too low. A press release from Dunn’s office stated that Dunn and Director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Alexa Sandoval agreed on a $1 million easement fee. The agreement still needs to be approved by the Department of Game and Fish Commission. In a written statement, Dunn said the increased fee will help pay for other programs around the state.

Albuquerque Journal

Texts lead to resignation from Game and Fish, then Land Commissioner’s office

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An assistant land commissioner resigned after the publication of text messages that showed apparent sexual harassment. Jim Lane was previously the director of the state Game and Fish Department when he resigned without warning in the fall of 2013. The Albuquerque Journal first published the texts, from when Lane was in charge of the Game and Fish Department. The Journal report outlines how these text messages to a subordinate led to his resignation. The Journal also published some of the texts in question.