Apache Man Gets 24 Months for Abusing Teen

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Raybert Darin Ahidley, 30, a member of the Mescalero Apache Nation, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 24 months for a sickening act of sexual abuse. The sentence, handed down in federal court in Las Cruces, barely scratches the surface of the damage inflicted on the victim.

Ahidley, residing in Mescalero, New Mexico, was initially arrested on February 8, 2016, following a criminal complaint detailing the abuse of a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. The victim, also a member of the Mescalero Apache Nation, suffered in silence until authorities intervened in Otero County. This wasn’t a fleeting moment; it was a calculated violation of trust.

On August 4, 2016, Ahidley entered a guilty plea to a felony information charge, admitting to engaging in a sexual act with a 15-year-old victim. He confessed the crime took place on the Mescalero Apache reservation, highlighting the vulnerability of those living within tribal lands. At the time of the offense, Ahidley was 29 years old, a grown man preying on a child.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Mescalero Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Justice Services. These agents dug through the layers of deceit, bringing the truth to light. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office relentlessly pursued justice in this case, demonstrating a commitment to protecting the vulnerable.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the horrifying epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project pools federal, state, and local resources, aiming to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators and rescue victims. It’s a necessary, though grim, undertaking. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

But the sentence doesn’t end with prison. Upon his release, Ahidley will face five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender – a permanent mark of his depravity. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and hold predators accountable. The victim deserves justice, and the public deserves to know the truth.

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