Nicholas Lucio pleads no contest in fatal Albuquerque motorcycle confrontation

Nicholas Lucio entered a no contest plea in court Thursday in an Albuquerque homicide case. The legal change resolves his initial not guilty plea before a scheduled sentencing hearing.

The case dates back to an incident in July 2025. Police said Lucio and two other men confronted Ann Marie Chaires at an apartment complex. The complex was located on Madeira Drive in southeast Albuquerque.

The confrontation happened after the group claimed Chaires sold one of their motorcycles, police said. Court documents say the group asked Chaires to get the motorcycle back. She refused. One of the men then shot and killed her, according to court documents.

A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea for sentencing. It allows an accused person to accept a conviction without admitting factual guilt.

Lucio agreed to plea to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. A judge will sentence him at a later date in Albuquerque.