Atole Gets 71 Months for Brutal Attacks on Native Women

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Tyson Atole, 31, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, will spend the next six years behind bars for a pair of brutal assaults on Native American women. The sentencing, handed down today in federal court, sends a message – though many question if it’s enough – that violence against Indigenous women will not be tolerated.

Atole, residing in Dulce, New Mexico, was originally indicted in February 2016, stemming from incidents occurring on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in Rio Arriba County. The charges included assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The initial incident, a bottle attack, took place on May 2, 2015. The second, a vicious fist fight, occurred January 28, 2016.

Court records show Atole pled guilty in May 2016 to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon – admitting to using a bottle against a woman – and a separate felony information detailing the assault causing serious bodily injury. He confessed to intentionally striking the second victim with his fist, leaving her with significant injuries. Both attacks happened within the boundaries of the Jicarilla Apache reservation, highlighting a disturbing pattern of violence within the community.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Police Department and federal prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle handled the case, securing the 71-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. While the sentence offers some measure of justice, advocates for Native American women continue to demand more comprehensive solutions to address the epidemic of violence plaguing tribal lands.

This prosecution was facilitated by the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in New Mexico. Funded by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women and administered by the Pueblo of Laguna, the program aims to bolster tribal prosecutors’ knowledge of federal law and investigative techniques. The goal? To ensure every viable case of violence against Native American women is pursued rigorously, either in federal or tribal court – or both.

The initiative arose from years of annual tribal consultations focused on violence against women and represents a concerted effort by the Justice Department to improve engagement and coordination with tribal communities. Whether this pilot project will translate into lasting change remains to be seen, but for now, Tyson Atole is off the streets, and two women can begin the long process of healing – a small victory in a much larger battle.