Mescalero Apache Man Admits to Heinous Sexual Assault

LAS CRUCES, NM – Michael Ellis Treas-Baca, 31, a member of the Mescalero Apache Nation, today confessed to a brutal act of sexual abuse. The plea, entered in federal court, details a horrific assault that took place on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in Otero County, New Mexico.

Treas-Baca was initially arrested on April 7, 2016, following allegations of the September 13, 2015, attack. The victim, a Mescalero Apache woman, was subjected to a violation that has now led to a guilty plea after years of legal maneuvering. Details revealed in court paint a disturbing picture of predatory behavior.

According to court documents, Treas-Baca admitted to sexually abusing the victim on September 13, 2016, while she was rendered unconscious and physically unable to consent. This admission formed the core of his guilty plea to the felony charge of sexual abuse. The specifics of the assault are deeply disturbing and underscore the gravity of his crime.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Treas-Baca faces a 78-month federal prison sentence. Following his incarceration, he will be subject to a period of supervised release, the length of which will be determined by the court. Crucially, he will also be required to register as a sex offender upon completion of his prison term, a designation that will follow him for life.

The investigation into this case was a collaborative effort between the Las Cruces office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Mescalero Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Justice Services. Their combined efforts brought this perpetrator to justice, providing a measure of accountability for his heinous actions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled, but when it occurs, it will mark another step towards justice for the victim and a warning to others who prey on the vulnerable. This case serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing struggle against sexual violence, particularly within vulnerable communities.