ABOUT
The Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office is a State of New Mexico agency that plays a crucial role in providing justice for crime victims in Doña Ana County. The office handles a wide variety of cases, from serious felonies to juvenile offenses in criminal proceedings.
Doña Ana County District Attorney Fernando R. Macias
Fernando Macias was born and raised in Southern New Mexico, graduating from New Mexico State University before attending law school at Georgetown University Law Center. Macias has been licensed to practice law since 1979 and has extensive experience in private practice. He devoted more than four decades to public service in the Doña Ana community, including time as a district judge, public defender, executive director of New Mexico Legal Aid, assistant district attorney and private practice attorney. Macias spent 16 years as a New Mexico state senator, where he chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, and also chaired the Doña Ana County Commission. His public service career also includes leadership as general manager of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission and executive director of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance. Before taking office as the Third Judicial District Attorney, Macias also spent nine years as Doña Ana County Manager.
As the Third Judicial District Attorney, Macias has focused on a multi-faceted approach to combating crime and improving public safety. This includes vigorous prosecution of both adults and juveniles involved in violent crimes, while also supporting efforts to address crime before it escalates.
Since taking office, Macias has hired 10 new prosecutors, bringing the total number of prosecutors in the office to 17, and reduced an inherited case backlog from 1,600 to 229. The Office has also made significant investments in new technology to modernize the discovery workflow, reduce workloads and increase prosecutions. These efforts have strengthened the Office's ability to manage cases, pursue accountability and build a safer community.
Building on this progress, Macias remains focused on strengthening prosecutorial capacity, addressing emerging challenges in juvenile crime and ensuring that victims in the community receive justice.
Our Leadership Team
Our experienced leadership team brings decades of experience in legal and prosecutorial experience to the work of the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office. Their knowledge and guidance help strengthen our team while providing mentorship and professional development opportunities for the prosecutors who serve Dona Ana County.
Susana Macias Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susana Macias is an NMSU alumna whose career has given her a broad perspective on the justice system. Throughout her career, she gained extensive experience across multiple levels of the legal sector. Macias has managed criminal and jury divisions at the Magistrate Court, served as a trial court administrative assistant at District Court, worked as a paralegal in the District Attorney’s Office, and collaborated with CYFD on juvenile crime initiatives. Her proven track record in court administration led the New Mexico Supreme Court to appoint her to optimize operations at county courthouses statewide. After decades of experience, she received her Juris Doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and opened her own private practice before becoming Chief Deputy DA. In this role, she leverages her extensive experience in management, court operations, and staff leadership to advance community safety and hold offenders accountable.
Heather Chavez Chief Deputy District Attorney
Heather Chavez earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from NMSU in 1998 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 2001. Over her 25-year legal career, she has dedicated nearly 21 years to serving as a prosecutor for the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Specializing in violent crimes, sexual assault, and crimes against children, Heather views prosecution as a true calling. She finds her greatest professional fulfillment in advocating for crime victims, ensuring they never stand alone, and giving them a powerful voice in the justice system. In addition to her work as a prosecutor, she proudly serves as a Member of the New Mexico Disciplinary Board, following her appointment by the New Mexico Supreme Court in 2024.
Spencer Willson Chief Deputy District Attorney
Spencer Willson earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He began his legal career in family law before transitioning to criminal law, where he has focused his practice throughout his career. Willson served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Northern District of Oklahoma, where he focused on HIDTA drug trafficking cases. He joined the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office in New Mexico in June of 2021 and has successfully prosecuted a wide range of cases from drug offenses to first-degree Murder. Most notably, Willson assisted DA Macias in the successful prosecution of the Young Park Murders.
The Establishment of the Third Judicial District Attorney:
The office of district attorney in New Mexico was created by the New Mexico Constitution, specifically Article VI, Section 24, which establishes the constitutional framework for this position within the state's judicial department. Section 34-6-1 NMSA 1978, codifies the division of the state into judicial districts, defining the Third Judicial District as consisting of Doña Ana County. The office’s duties are governed by Section 36-1-18 NMSA 1978, which mandates the District Attorney to prosecute and defend in his district. The Third Judicial District Attorney was established on January 1, 1996. Today, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office is housed in the Doña Ana Government Building located at 845 N. Motel Blvd. 2nd Fl. Ste. D, Las Cruces, NM 88007.