N.M. Stat. § 48-2A-11
Discharge; penalty.
A. Payment by the owner or his successor in interest to any person entitled to
payment of all and any amounts due and owing for any labor or materials furnished or
other actions the performance of which could give rise to a lien pursuant to Section 48-
2-2 NMSA 1978 to be performed upon a residential site shall discharge all such liens
unless prior to payment any person who is entitled to such lien has filed for record his
lien pursuant to Section 48-2-6 NMSA 1978. For the purposes of this section, the
original contractor shall not be the agent of the owner.
B. Any contractor or subcontractor justly indebted to a supplier of material or labor
who accepts payment for construction described in Subsection A of this section and
knowingly and intentionally applies the proceeds to a use other than paying those
persons with whom he contracted is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be
sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.