Media Release: Ninth Judicial District Attorney

Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray announced that on July 24, 2025, a Curry County jury found Jeffery Smiley guilty of multiple charges, including Child Abuse Resulting in Great Bodily Harm, Child Abuse no Great Bodily Harm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Shooting At or From a Motor Vehicle Resulting in Great Bodily Harm.

The charges stem from July 11, 2023, when Clovis Police Department officers were dispatched to calls of shots fired in the area of 12th and Calhoun Street. One 911 caller informed the Clovis Police Department that they had seen a man shooting at a SUV near the intersection of 12th and Calhoun. A second call to dispatch reported that a young girl had been shot in the head. As Officers arrived at Plains Regional Medical Center, they learned that a 7-year-old girl was seriously injured, she was quickly flown to Lubbock for life saving treatment. The 9th Judicial District Major Crimes Unit was activated and began the investigating the shooting.

At trial, evidence was presented that Jeffery Smiley and ex-wife, Destiny Molina, had been to court earlier in the day where Smiley learned that their divorce had been finalized and that he was barred from seeing his younger daughter.  Smiley’s adult daughter and son-in-law picked up Smiley from court and soon after they encountered Molina’s vehicle in a residential area when Smiley stepped out of the vehicle and fired 12 .45 caliber rounds at Molina’s white SUV occupied by Molina, her boyfriend, and her three children —injuring Smiley’s and Molina’s shared daughter.  Prosecutors presented video from a Ring doorbell near the area of 12th and Calhoun which captured portions of the shooting and eyewitness testimony establishing Smiley to be the shooter.

The trial lasted four days and was overseen by Judge Drew Tatum.  Prosecuting for the State were Special Prosecutor, Brett Carter, and Senior Trial Attorney, Anthony Jaimes. Smiley was represented by defense counsel, Sandra Gallagher, of the Law Office of the Public Defender.

Smiley faces substantial prison time, with sentencing set to occur at a later date.