Convictions reversed for four people tied to Taos compound case

A federal appeals court overturned kidnapping judgments for Hujrah Wahhaj in a northern New Mexico case. The decision also throws out related conspiracy counts for other defendants from Taos County. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals tossed the kidnapping convictions for Wahhaj, Sbhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton. The court linked the group to a terrorist compound near Taos.

Judges also vacated conspiracy to kill federal officer charges against Morton and Siraj Wahhaj. That decision removes those specific charges against both men.

Federal prosecutors said the group was led by Jany Leveille. Prosecutors said the group kidnapped the 3-year-old son of Siraj Wahhaj in 2017. They took the child to the northern New Mexico compound, according to prosecutors.

The boy later died during a religious ritual. The appellate court sent the conspiracy charges back to district court for a retrial. The kidnapping charges cannot be retried.

An appellate court reviews decisions made by lower trial courts. A vacated charge means the original ruling is canceled. Federal district courts handle trials that return from appeals.

Leveille pleaded guilty in the case. She was not part of the appeal in Taos County.