ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Dabert Wayne Comanche, 35, of Mescalero, New Mexico, is headed back to prison. The enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Nation received a 15-month sentence in federal court today for a simple, yet critical, failure: updating his sex offender registration. Following his release, Comanche will face five years of supervised release, and will be required to re-register as a sex offender.
The charge? Violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act. This isn’t some technicality. SORNA demands convicted sex offenders keep their registrations current in every jurisdiction where they live, work, or study. Comanche didn’t. He failed to update his information between April 7, 2014, and February 20, 2016, specifically in San Juan County, New Mexico.
The feds first caught wind of the violation back in February 2016, filing a criminal complaint. An indictment followed a month later. This case isn’t about a new offense; it’s about accountability. Comanche was originally convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country way back in April 2003, landing him a 78-month prison term. He registered as a sex offender in Mescalero on June 1, 2011, promising to notify authorities if he moved.
He didn’t. According to court documents, Comanche last reported to the Mescalero Apache Nation on January 7, 2014. An update was due in April of that year, but it never came. He admitted to the oversight when he pled guilty to the indictment on July 6, 2016, confessing to the original aggravated sexual abuse of a child conviction that triggered the registration requirement in the first place.
This wasn’t a complicated investigation. The U.S. Marshals Service and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office did the work, piecing together the evidence of non-compliance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall handled the prosecution, ensuring Comanche faced the consequences for failing to fulfill his legal obligations.
Fifteen months may seem like a light sentence to some, but it’s a clear message: ignoring sex offender registration laws isn’t a victimless crime. It’s a direct threat to public safety, and the Department of Justice is taking it seriously. Comanche’s case serves as a stark reminder that even after serving time for a heinous act, the responsibility doesn’t end. It continues with strict adherence to the rules designed to protect our communities.”
Related Federal Cases
- Rio Arriba Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as Sex Offender · New Mexico
- Dulce Monster Gets Life for Decades of Abuse · New Mexico
- Albuquerque Man Carl Weatherman Gets 75 Months for Child Porn Charge · New Mexico
- Zuni Pueblo Man Lasiloo Gets 8 Years for Child Abuse · New Mexico
- Julius H. Willie Gets 21 Years for Navajo Nation Sexual Abuse · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes