⏱ 2 min read
Shelton Atole, a 35-year-old enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for repeatedly assaulting a woman in Dulce, New Mexico, on July 23, 2025. Despite being under a tribal court order prohibiting contact with the victim, Atole physically attacked the woman, hitting her repeatedly in the face and head. The victim attempted to flee, but Atole chased her until she escaped and called a friend for help.
Atole pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate or dating partner. The investigation was conducted by the Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department.
Upon his release from prison, Atole will be subject to three years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson, and the sentencing announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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