⏱ 2 min read
A brutal assault left a victim with serious facial injuries in Española, New Mexico. On April 3, 2026, 22-year-old Joseph Cata allegedly attacked the victim inside a residence, striking their face multiple times and twice strangling them until a witness intervened.
Cata, an enrolled member of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of assault by strangulation. The victim suffered visible injuries, including a bruised right eye, scratches and swelling.
Cata remains free on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, he’ll face serious time for a crime that nearly took the victim’s life.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
