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Accused stalker released in Roswell after agreeing to house arrest

Michael Smith
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Accused stalker released in Roswell after agreeing to house arrest


Wheeler Cowperthwaite
Special to the Artesia Daily Press

A convicted murderer, accused of stalking his soon-to-be ex-wife, was released on house arrest in Roswell, after he agreed to waive a preliminary hearing.

Prosecutor Kent Wahlquist withdrew his motion on March 24, to have Javier Alonzo, 46, of Santa Cruz, held without bail pending trial after Alonso waived a preliminary hearing in exchange for prosecutors agreeing to house arrest.

Alonzo agreed to the deal the same day the case was set for a pre-trial detention and preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated stalking, battery, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Those are slightly different charges than those that New Mexico State Police Officer Noberto Medrano-Tapia sought an arrest warrant for on Feb. 5. That arrest warrant charged Alonzo with aggravated assault, felon in possession of a firearm, violation of a protection order and harassment. He arrested Alonzo on Feb. 11, six days later.

Wahlquist initially sought to have Alonzo held without bail on Feb. 12, citing a previous murder conviction.

Alonzo allegedly repeatedly violated a no contact order by contacting his wife, who filed for divorce in October 2025. He allegedly emailed her, sent her communications through CashApp, tried to get her phone number from her landlord, called her children’s phones and had his mother go to her house, Medrano-Tapia wrote.

The woman told police that Alonzo brandished a gun inside a car, cocked it, placed it to her head and threatened to kill her. Police cruisers were nearby so he threatened to kill her before she could reach safety, he wrote.

In another incident in a Walmart parking lot, Alonzo allegedly punched out a vehicle windshield and restrained her while she tried to call for police. Bystanders intervened, Medrano-Tapia wrote.

She provided videos to the officer, showing Alonzo holding a gun and threatening her, he wrote.

Murder Conviction

Court dockets show Alonzo pleaded guilty to second degree murder in 2004 for an incident in Roswell, and received the maximum sentence, 15 years, followed by two years of probation.

His ex-wife told State Police officers that he killed a man while in prison, Medrano-Tapia wrote.

While Alonzo is not on probation in New Mexico, he is being supervised following his release in a federal case where he pleaded guilty to “violent crimes in aid of racketeering (murder).” He was sentenced to four years and three months, starting on Sept. 30, 2022, followed by supervised release for five years.

When federal prosecutors charged him in late 2015, the United States Attorney’s Office in New Mexico wrote in a press release, that he was one of 25 alleged gang members charged in connection with four killings under an initiative to prosecute the “worst of the worst,” who are members of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, a New Mexican prison gang. The charge he pleaded guilty to was for his involvement in the killing of a person in 2007, “in aid of the Gang’s racketeering affairs,” according to 2015 the press release.

The Unflappable Architect, who wants every ounce

JT Keith
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The Unflappable Architect, who wants every ounce


JT Keith

Everything about Artesia head cross-country coach and assistant track and girls’ basketball coach Nicholas Rivera conveys a sense of calm.

From his bald head to his neatly trimmed mustache and beard, Rivera moves with an ease that feels intentional. When he walks, it is more of a glide. He is never in a hurry, even when he is moving fast, and when he talks with an athlete, his voice carries the familiarity of a friend and the authority of someone who has been there.

That calm is earned

Rivera is a former national-class middle-distance runner. In 2013, he won the USA Junior Outdoor Championship in the 800 meters with a time of 1:49.55, earning a spot on Team USA for the Pan American Junior Championships. At Texas Tech, he became a Big 12 champion, sweeping indoor and outdoor 800-meter titles, with a career best time of 1:50.03 in the 800 and 3:46.63 in the 1500.

Running shaped how Rivera understands pressure, pace, and discipline. It taught him how far to push without losing control, lessons that now define how he approaches coaching.

At Artesia, Rivera serves as head cross-country coach while assisting in track and girls’ basketball, working under two intense head coaches, Adrian Olivas and Candace Pollard. His role requires balance and humility, an understanding of when to lead and when to support.

Assistant coach

As an assistant track coach, Rivera operates the camera system used to verify records and state qualifying marks. He works primarily with athletes from the 800 meters to the 2-mile, assists select 400-meter runners, provides input on the 800-meter medley relay, and helps with the high jumpers.

Rivera said his relationships with Pollard and Olivas allow him to set aside ego and focus on helping.

“We are all super comfortable with each other,” Rivera said. “I come to bring the knowledge and wisdom I have and help them run a good program. As an athlete, you learn how to flip the switch when it’s time to go.”

When Rivera runs his cross-country program, he emphasizes patience, care, and long-term growth. In basketball, his role shifts entirely to support Pollard’s vision and needs.

When basketball ends, he flips the switch again, fully invested in track.

Closets

Rivera is also famously superstitious. He keeps separate closets for each sport and refuses to mix gear across seasons. Yet when the day ends, he can shut everything down and go home to be a husband and father without carrying the weight of coaching.

“I love these kids,” Rivera said. “I want to help them be the best they can be. That doesn’t stop when the season ends.”

With seniors, reflection often follows the final meet. Rivera said he frequently questions whether he did enough and what more he could have given.

JT Keith |Artesia Daily Press
Artesia assistant track coach Nicholas Rivera

Relentless

“Be relentless,” Rivera said he hopes athletes take away after four years. “Let’s see what every ounce is, because life is going to beat them up. When you don’t have any more, that’s when you get better.”

Rivera teaches that growth often happens when athletes are tired and uncomfortable. Not everything will come quickly, he tells them, and learning to push through disappointment is part of the process.

Family First

Rivera is the first in his family to graduate from college. He reminds athletes that their results belong to them, not him.

“I know what running is,” Rivera said. “I know the feeling of being nauseated and woozy. I’ve pushed those boundaries.”

Working for two focused head coaches requires preparation and presence. Rivera said tension doesn’t help. He wants to arrive calm, ready, and with solutions.

“They’ve (Artesia Administration) given me the chance to do something I love,” Rivera said. “Unless they tell me to step away or step back, I’m going to keep loving it 100 percent.”

Texas House committee to study possible New Mexico border shift

Michael Smith
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Texas House committee to study possible New Mexico border shift

Denise Marquez
Hobbs News-Sun

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has directed a new committee to study the secession of New Mexico counties to Texas, following a move by Rep. Randy Pettigrew, R-Lovington, who reintroduced a constitutional amendment to the New Mexico Legislature allowing New Mexico counties to secede.

Burrows, R-Lubbock, released his interim committee charges on Thursday, March 26, and established three new committees, including a new governmental oversight committee tasked to study the secession of New Mexico Counties, according to a press release and a report from the Texas Tribune.

The interim committee charges are an outline of priorities to guide legislative work ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature in 2027.

According to the 53-page catalog, the committee is tasked to study the following: “the constitutional, statutory, fiscal and economic implications of adding to Texas one or more contiguous counties of New Mexico; provide a detailed analysis of pertinent provisions of the United States Constitution, the Texas Constitution, the New Mexico Constitution, relevant federal and state statutes and applicable judicial precedent; identify and outline all procedural steps required at both the state and federal level necessary to admit territory currently part of New Mexico into Texas; and recommend drafts of any requisite legislation or resolutions to initiate the process.”

Pettigrew, who said he was seeking to send a message to Santa Fe, in partnership with Rep. Jimmy Mason, R-Artesia, introduced House Joint Resolution 10 (HJR 10) on Jan. 29 in Santa Fe during the 30-day New Mexico Legislative session. HJR 10 proposed to amend Article 1 of the Constitution of New Mexico by adding a new section, to read: “The state of New Mexico consents to the secession of three or more contiguous counties if no less than 15 percent of voters in those counties sign a petition requesting the county to hold a special election on the question of whether the counties should secede to be admitted to the union as a new state or join an adjoining state.”

The amendment states two-thirds of the population’s support of secession would be required, and then the county commissioners, U.S. Congress and the president would all have to sign off. HJR 10 was referred to the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee (HGEIC) and House Judiciary Committee (HJC), and no further action was taken.

“It was filed to send the State of New Mexico a message,” Pettigrew told the News-Sun. “Lea and Eddy Counties are two of five revenue-positive counties in this state … We are the backbone of New Mexico’s financial structure.”

The local response to Pettigrew’s message was mixed. Pettigrew said conversations with municipal and country leadership are crucial for an annexation to happen.

“To be clear, this joint resolution was introduced with no conversation occurring with municipal or county leadership,” he said. “Those conversations would be critical. My intention with HJR 10 was to create conversation. Lea and Eddy counties provide over 50 percent of the general fund revenue and receive little to no recognition for our contribution.”

Elaine Sena Cortez, R-Hobbs, agreed with Pettigrew on the disconnect between Santa Fe policymakers and Lea County residents.

“Many in our community feel silenced by decisions made in the state capitol, overlooked by its political priorities and underappreciated for the contributions we make to New Mexico,” she said. “Santa Fe politicians should treat southeastern New Mexico as a region they cannot afford to lose. Our oil and gas industry and hardworking families are vital to the state’s economy and future.”

Sen. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, said Texas annexing southeastern New Mexico counties is a longshot.

“That would be a real feather in the hat of Texas if they could acquire Lea and Eddy counties from New Mexico,” he said. “Particularly for the revenue stream that it brings into the state. New Mexico will not let Lea and Eddy go; in spite of the fact they don’t appear to hold us in high regard. They wouldn’t let go of $5 billion of revenue.

“That’s why I believe any talk of annexation, or New Mexico relinquishing the southeast part of the state, would be a very long shot,” Scott added. “I think we would be more appropriately appreciated in Texas but I just don’t see it happening.”

Pettigrew said Burrow’s office reached out to him in the past but he said he has not spoken with Burrow or his office representatives.

Denise Marquez’s email is reporter@hobbsnews.com.

Keithley’s Korner: Ruidoso’s famed Flying J Ranch up for sale

Michael Smith
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Keithley’s Korner: Ruidoso’s famed Flying J Ranch up for sale

Tim Keithley
Artesia Daily Press

Longtime Wranglers hang up their hats

The Flying J Ranch, the pinnacle of chuckwagon supper and western entertainment in Ruidoso since 1982, has closed operations, listed the property for sale and will not be offering nightly shows this summer, according to longtime owners James and Cindy Hobbs.

“We are ready to let it go,” James said. “It has been an incredible privilege for this to have been a part of our lives and are grateful to so many people that participated in the productions and been supportive of this business as a member of the audience.”

The property, known as “Bonito City” to adoring fans for western music, gunfights and hot biscuits, is a turnkey opportunity for whomever has a new vision for the property. It is complete with a 500-seat enclosed dinner theater, state-of-the-art performance stage, large kitchen, living quarters, wedding chapel, souvenir shops, RV spaces and so much more.

Putting a price tag on it: $1.95 million. However, the memories we’ve all shared watching Cindy’s “granny” antics and listening to the harmonies of the Hobbs family and many select musicians of the world-famous Flying J Wranglers on stage through the years: priceless.

“We’ve been retired long enough now to have cried our happy tears,” James said. “It was our personal identity for most all our adult lives, and Cindy and I have spent practically every Memorial Day through Labor Day performing six nights a week. Our family is in full agreement that it is time for this property to begin a new era with a new owner.”

James and Cindy passed the management duties for the property over to their daughter and son-in-law Mickey and Emily Bakas seven years ago. He said the couple made many positive financial strides in the company by creating and producing a Christmas season of lights and shows that widened the length of the season while producing additional revenue. Both musicians, Mickey and Emily performed on stage as well. The couple recently moved with their children to Estes Park, Colorado, to be closer to Mickey’s family.

“Mickey and Emily did an incredible job managing the Flying J despite the unfortunate circumstances of a pandemic, fires and floods,” Hobbs said. The property would not be in its present pristine condition without their hard work and management.”

James, 72, said he understands how thousands of fans of the Flying J Ranch might feel sad losing this special venue that will be a mantelpiece in the history of Ruidoso. Enjoying the music and laughter with friends and family has been part of our summer traditions. The Flying J Wranglers and the many talented musicians who performed there over the years will always live in our hearts.

Ruidoso may never see another couple like James and Cindy. They have been human billboards and public ambassadors to this town for the past 44 years. They deserve a long and beautiful retirement. James and Cindy gave us “Song for New Mexico” – a treasure – plus so many other incredible and personal tunes that we will listen to until the end of our days.

Plus, if nothing else, they always taught all of us exactly what is meant by the phrase, “No Beans!”

Artesia Daily Press columnist Tim Keithley writes about the people and events in the community. If you have a story idea, contact Tim at tkeithley@zianet.com.

Artesia Allsup’s stores now offer Sinclair gasoline

Michael Smith
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Artesia Allsup’s stores now offer Sinclair gasoline

A grand opening event was held in Artesia Friday, March 27 for a new partnership between Allsup’s convenience stores and Sinclair Oil.

Allsup’s stores in Artesia are now offering gasoline provided by Sinclair Oil.

Community members gathered with officials from Sinclair Oil and Allsup’s during a ribbon cutting at the store’s location at 1600 N. First St.

There were promotions from both companies along food, drinks, and games.

Three Men, a Pizza, and a Fantasy Football League

JT Keith
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Three Men, a Pizza, and a Fantasy Football League


JT Keith

Artesia football fans are everywhere, and they will talk football anywhere.

A stop at the Lucky Duck Grill after covering a signing turned into a front-row seat for exactly that. Two tables over, three guys who had just ordered a pizza were already deep into a heated debate — which NFL players were washed up, who were overrated, and who should be drafted next.

The pizza wasn’t even on the table yet, but the NFL draft was already underway.

Super Flex, long debates

The league is called Super Flex Dynasty, a format built for the long haul. Rosters carry over from season to season, with teams holding on to players through the offseason, much like an actual NFL franchise.

Adam Folmar and Kaden Williams have been playing fantasy football for about five years, with Luke Blackmon joining the league two and a half years ago. With the NFL draft set for April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, preparation has hit full stride.

“With the draft coming up, now is the time to plan our strategy,” Folmar said.

That planning includes mock drafts inside their fantasy software and plenty of second-guessing.

“We’ll say, ‘If this guy goes sixth in the NFL draft, is it going to be the same in ours?’” Folmar said.

Mind games included

Folmar’s team, Beats by Ray, is built on more than just player evaluations. He admits there’s always a psychological element at play.

“In fantasy football, there’s always a mind game going on,” Folmar said. “Everyone’s just trying to do what’s best for their team.”

The ultimate goal is simple: win the league championship — the fantasy version of the Super Bowl — and enjoy the bragging rights that come with it.

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press
Luke Blackmon with the headphones around his neck, Adam Folmar with the pizza and the white and black Nikes on, and Kaden Williams with the Dr. Pepper hat on, talk about fantasy football.

Nerds

Williams summed up the appeal of fantasy football in one sentence.

“It’s basically a really fun way to be nerdy about football,” he said.

Fantasy football turns watching college and professional games into something more personal.

“They’re our teams,” Williams said. “Our team name, our franchise. I can watch college football and say, ‘I love that wide receiver — let’s trade up in the draft so I can get him.’ It makes it way more fun.”

All about Love

Williams is known as the league’s most aggressive trader. His team name, Two Decades, is an inside joke about how often he’s willing to deal.

His friends joke that it might actually take him two decades to complete all those trades.

Blackmon has taken a different approach. His team name is Tanking for Love, a nod to his hope of drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a projected top 10 NFL pick.

Joining the league about a year ago, Blackmon immediately blew up his roster, stockpiling draft picks in a full rebuild. His friends call it “going Jerry Jones,” just without the stadium.

How the league works

The league costs $50 per person to enter. Owners track players through an app that tallies weekly point totals. The top scorer after the 14-week regular season wins prize money, with the rest of the pot going to the playoff champion.

Effectively, that creates two titles.

“Our job is to look at our team and decide who’s going to do best that week,” Blackmon said.

Each lineup includes a quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, a tight end, and a flex position. The Super Flex spot can even be used on a second quarterback.

One firm rule: no kickers allowed.

Just having fun

Some league members don’t live in Artesia, but they still try to meet up when they can, especially around draft time.

“We’re not smart,” Williams said with a laugh. “We’re just a bunch of casual people who aren’t really qualified — except to have fun.”

That fun comes from arguing, laughing, trading, and giving each other grief.

“We get to make fun of each other, encourage each other, and enjoy it,” Williams said. “It’s a huge blast.”

Three men, one pizza, and a thousand draft opinions — the pizza eventually showed up, but the football debate never really ended in Artesia.

Classic car enthusiasts’ journey over 100 miles from Texas to Artesia event

Michael Smith
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Classic car enthusiasts’ journey over 100 miles from Texas to Artesia event

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@elritomedia.com

Troy Yarbrough and his family not only traveled 131 miles to Artesia for the annual Main Event Car Show and Cruise, they brought along four classic vehicles to show at the March 27-28 event.

“This is just something our family likes doing,” said Yarbrough, who lives in Andrews, Texas. “We enjoy coming over here, particularly. They put on a good show.”

This year marked the 27th year for the show, which is sponsored by the Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Artesia Car Enthusiasts (ACE).

Yarbrough, 59, is a car collector and the prized possessions he towed from west Texas to southeastern New Mexico were a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria, a 1959 Ford Skyliner, a 2008 Mercedes and a Chevrolet Camino utility vehicle.

And he didn’t bring all the cars he’s collected.

“We’ve got a ‘73 (Ford) Gran Torino Sport that’s all original,” he said. “It (has) 46,000 original miles and never had anything done to it. It’s been in this show in years past.”

Yarbrough said restoring classic cars and pickup trucks is a consuming pastime.

“It takes me about eight years from start to finish,” he said. He’s currently working on a 1951 Ford pickup for his son.

“My day job gets in the way of my hobby,” Yarbrough said with a chuckle during a Saturday morning conversation at the car show.

Yarbrough, who owns an equipment rental business in Andrews and also owns a ranch near Stephenville, Texas, said the cost of restoration has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic ended in 2023.

He said it’s still possible to buy vehicles such as the 1950s-era Fords he brought to Artesia at pre-pandemic prices of $10,000 to $15,000 but it can cost twice as much for restoration.

Before the pandemic, he said, “you might spend another $15,000 to $20,000” on top of the purchase price to restore the vehicle. Now, Yarbrough said, “It’s maybe $30,000 to $40,000” for parts plus chrome and paint work.

“An average nice paint job now starts at $30,000,” he said.

Jessica Bollema, executive director of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce, said the show was a success despite cold, windy weather that hampered the event’s opening day and night on Friday.

The Main Street cruise portion of the program on Friday, she said, featured 85 classic vehicles.

In all, Bollema said, 208 classic cars, pickups, tractors, low riders and motorcycles were on display.

“I was totally pleased,” she said. “Throughout the day, a couple of thousand people turned out.”

Since the Chamber and ACE took over promotion of the show in 2018, Bollema said, the event has drawn an average of 200 to 300 vehicles each year.

“I’m happy with it,” she said.

Bollema said plans are already underway for the 28th edition of the Main Event Car Show and Cruise, which will be held April 2-3, 2027.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

Gone fishin’ on Easter weekend

Michael Smith
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Gone fishin’ on Easter weekend

32 seconds to Eternity: How Artesia Football rewrote the National Rulebook

JT Keith
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32 seconds to Eternity: How Artesia Football rewrote the National Rulebook

JT Keith

In the Pecos Valley, the “Artesia Way” is a brand of football built on discipline, power, and a refusal to make excuses. But on Oct. 28, 2016, at the iconic Wool Bowl in Roswell, the Bulldogs found themselves in a battle where the standard playbook didn’t apply. On that night, the exploitation of a bizarre loophole prompted a national change that still governs every snap in America today.

It was a finish that didn’t just cost the visiting Bulldogs a district win—it exposed a flaw in the game that no one realized existed until Artesia and the Goddard Rockets were trapped in a 17-minute stalemate.

With only 32 seconds remaining on the clock, Artesia held a slim lead. After a crucial interception, the Bulldogs lined up in “victory formation.” For the Orange and Black, it should have been a simple formality: a clean snap, a knee to the turf, and a bus ride back home with a hard-earned win.

Instead, those 32 seconds stretched into an eternity.

Goddard, desperate to claw back, began a tactical assault on the line of scrimmage that the officials were unprepared to handle. For four consecutive plays, Rocket defenders crowded the ball, swiping at it while it was still in the hands of Artesia center Jared Acosta.

“I remember they were stacking the line, and one guy swiped the ball out of my hand as I snapped it,” Acosta recalled. “Goddard did it forever, and the refs kept throwing flags for offsides until they finally gave it to them.”

NFHS rules

The Wool Bowl buzzed with a mix of Bulldog fury and general confusion. Four times, the Rockets jumped early, drew an offside penalty, and effectively stopped the clock. Because the penalties occurred before the snap was completed, the clock stayed frozen, and the down was reset. Artesia couldn’t get a play off; Goddard wouldn’t let them.

At the time, the tactic fell into a gray area in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rulebook. If a center moved the ball even a fraction of an inch during his pre-snap rhythm, a defender could argue they were “making a play” on a live ball.

“We felt like it was a more secure snap under center,” said Rex Henderson, Artesia’s head coach at the time. “We felt like there were fewer problems you can have under center than in shotgun in terms of the end of the game.”

JT Keith |Artesia Daily Press

Artesia and Goddard shake hands before playing a game at the Bulldog Bowl earlier this year.

By the fifth attempt, Henderson made a gut-wrenching tactical shift, moving quarterback Taylor Null back into the shotgun. Artesia was essentially planning for a fumble, trying to find a way for his own players to recover a ball they knew was going to be swiped. His intuition was right. A Goddard defender timed the snap perfectly, slapping the ball out of Acosta’s hands. The ball hit the turf, Goddard pounced, and the officials—to the disbelief of the Artesia sideline—ruled it a fumble.

Even Goddard’s then-head coach, Chris White, acknowledged the sheer improbability of the tactic working. In a report by USA TODAY High School Sports, White compared the sequence to “winning the lottery.”

“It’s a million-to-1 type of deal,” White told the Albuquerque Journal at the time. “Damndest thing I’ve ever seen.”

32 seconds

The final 32 seconds of the clock took 17 minutes of real time to play. Goddard used the turnover to drive into field-goal range, but the drama had one final, cruel twist. After the Rockets missed their initial field-goal attempt, a yellow flag hit the turf. The Bulldogs were assessed a penalty for having a man over the center—the very position Goddard had been exploiting all night. The technicality moved the ball 15 yards closer.

Given a second life, the Rockets lined up for a 21-yard attempt and drilled it, walking off with a 37-35 victory.

“After the game, in the locker room, we read the rules,” Henderson said. “It was technically not illegal, and that is why there was a rule change.”

In the face of such a controversial finish, Henderson leaned into the character that defines Artesia football. He told his grieving players to look inward rather than at the stripes.

“We can control what we can control, and we cannot control the officials,” Henderson told them. “The officials did not lose the game; we did. We should have scored more than 37 points. We are going to find out how to get better, and we are not going to talk about the officials.”

While the Bulldogs went back to work, the NMAA took the film to Indianapolis. Executive Director Dusty Young and the New Mexico contingent realized that if this move remained legal, any trailing team could infinitely delay a game by repeatedly fouling the center until a turnover occurred.

On June 15, 2017, the NFHS officially rewrote Rule 7-1-6. Jordan Morey, a spokesperson for the NFHS, noted that the change was a direct response to the “unfair acts” allowed by the previous loophole. It is now a dead-ball encroachment foul for any defender to touch the ball or the snapper’s arms before the release.

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press
Jack Byers makes a touchdown catch against Goddard in a game at the Bulldog Bowl

The “Artesia Rule” was born.

The Bulldogs finished that 2016 campaign with a 10-3 record, finishing third in District 4-5A before battling their way to the state championship game, where they eventually fell to St. Pius X, 34-24. Goddard finished at 6-5 after taking the district title.

But Artesia’s legacy that year isn’t measured in trophies. Because of 17 minutes of chaos in the Wool Bowl, the game is fairer for every high school player in the country.

“I am a competitive person, and that bugged me a lot,” Acosta said. “I felt like we were playing two teams that night.”

They were. But in the end, Artesia won the only battle that truly mattered: the one that protected the integrity of the game for every team that follows in their footsteps.

CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: Crown Pork Roast with Apple, Sage & Pork Belly Stuffing a good meal for Easter

Michael Smith
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CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: Crown Pork Roast with Apple, Sage & Pork Belly Stuffing a good meal for Easter

Bruce Lesman

Easter has always felt like a quiet turning point.

It arrives when winter finally loosens its grip and the light lingers just a little longer in the evening. There’s something hopeful about it — longer days, budding trees, pastel tables, and the sense that we’re gathering not just for a meal, but for renewal.

I’ve always loved how the holiday blends reflection with celebration. It’s thoughtful, yet joyful. And the table should mirror that feeling — elegant but welcoming, impressive yet deeply comforting.

That’s why a crown pork roast feels so right for Easter.

There are few presentations as dramatic. When I bring a crown roast to the table, there’s always a pause — the kind that tells you the meal is about to become a memory. The bones arch upward like a centerpiece, framing the stuffing tucked inside. It’s celebratory without being fussy.

For this Easter version, I lean into flavors that feel both traditional and fresh: tart apples, fragrant sage, and rich pork belly folded into rustic bread stuffing. The pork belly slowly renders as the roast cooks, basting the bread from within. The apples soften and perfume the pork, adding a gentle sweetness that balances the savory depth.

More than anything, this dish embodies what I love about Easter: generosity, warmth, and gathering. The moment before the first slice, the quiet admiration around the table, the clink of glasses — it’s all part of the celebration.

Crown Pork Roast (Serves 8–10)

Ingredients

• 1 (8–10 rib) crown pork roast, 8–10 pounds

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped

• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 1 cup dry white wine or chicken stock

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Pat the roast dry and wrap exposed bone tips in foil.

2. Mix olive oil, garlic, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper. Rub over entire roast.

3. Place roast on rack in roasting pan and roast 20 minutes to develop color.

4. Reduce oven to 325°F. Add wine or stock to pan. Roast 18–20 minutes per pound until internal temperature reaches 140–145°F.

5. Tent loosely with foil and rest 20–30 minutes before slicing.

Apple, Sage & Pork Belly Stuffing (Serves 8–10)

Ingredients

• 6 cups day-old rustic bread, cubed

• 6 ounces pork belly, small dice

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 2 apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and diced

• 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped

• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme

• 1½ cups warm chicken stock

• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

6. Cook pork belly in skillet over medium heat until browned and fat renders. Remove and reserve 2–3 tablespoons fat.

7. Sauté onion and celery in reserved fat until softened. Add apples and cook until just tender.

8. Combine bread cubes, pork belly, vegetables, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper in large bowl.

9. Gradually add warm stock until mixture is moist but not soggy.

10. Bake in buttered dish at 350°F for 30–35 minutes, or place into roast cavity during last hour of cooking until stuffing reaches 165°F.

Bruce Lesman is a seasoned hospitality professional and food columnist with decades of experience in luxury resort dining and culinary leadership. Prior positions, Corporate Food & Beverage Director of Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Lines, Vice President of Canyon Ranch Wellness Resorts, Lead Consultant, Miami Culinary Institute.

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