CONEJOS — A two-day preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin today for Santos Nevares, 25, charged in a triple homicide in Capulin on January 15.

Nevares is charged with the shooting deaths of Lupe Cervantes, 57 and Jose “Joey” Manuel Archuleta, 54, as well as wounding Don “Kinki” Martinez, 34 on the evening of Sunday, January 15, at the home of Lupe Cervantes who was celebrating his 57th birthday. Marissa Luz Cervantez, 30, was also shot that evening and passed away the following day as a result of her injuries. She had just celebrated her 30th birthday the week before.

Nevares fled the scene after the shooting but was apprehended after his vehicle became stuck in deep snow several miles west of the crime scene.

Nevares is charged with three counts of first degree murder with intent after deliberation; three counts of first degree murder with extreme indifference; one count of criminal attempt to commit first degree murder, with intent and after deliberation; one count of first degree assault with intent to cause bodily injury, causing serious bodily injury by means of a deadly weapon; one count of aggravated motor vehicle theft, using a vehicle in the commission of a crime other than a traffic offense and one count of felony menacing.

Nevares’ preliminary hearing had been scheduled for April but was rescheduled for June 22 and 23 under Rio Grande County Judge Barbara Zollars who assumed the case when Conejos County Judge Kimberly Cortez recused herself.