Justin Kenneth, Aggravated Child Sexual Abuse, New Mexico 2010

State: New Mexico
Category: Sex Crimes
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/crownpoint-man-pleads-guilty-federal-aggravated-child-sexual-abuse-charge" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – A horrific crime has shaken a small community in New Mexico. In October 2010, Justin Kenneth, 20, allegedly committed an egregious act on a child under the age of 12. The case was brought to light, and Kenneth was arrested in December 2010.

Kenneth, a member and resident of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty last Thursday to an aggravated sexual abuse charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The terms of the plea agreement are severe and include a federal prison term of eight to ten years, followed by a term of supervised release of five years to life to be determined by the court.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kenneth will also be required to register as a sex offender. This is a critical step in protecting the community and preventing further harm.

The case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob A. Wishard is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Kenneth was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after entering his guilty plea. He will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case is a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and community involvement in preventing child abuse. The New Mexico community can rest a little easier knowing that Kenneth will face justice for his heinous crime.

Project Safe Childhood is a critical initiative that brings together federal, state, and local resources to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/.

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