Assault on Intimate Partner Rocks New Mexico Community
Sonny Roy Valdez, 19, a member of the Mescalero Apache Nation, has been accused of a heinous crime that has left a trail of trauma in its wake. The young man allegedly assaulted his intimate partner on May 27, 2014, by biting off part of her lip. The victim’s injuries were so severe that she required medical treatment and hospitalization.
The offense occurred within the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County, New Mexico. Valdez was arrested on June 5, 2014, and has been in federal custody ever since. He remains detained pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Valdez faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in prison.
According to a federal complaint, Valdez assaulted his intimate partner, a Mescalero Apache woman, on May 27, 2014. The complaint details a disturbing account of violence and abuse. The victim’s injuries were so severe that she required extensive medical treatment and hospitalization.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office. The case was investigated by the Mescalero Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services.
The case is part of a federal initiative to address the epidemic incidence of violence against Native women. The Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure, and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both.
As part of the Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project, the Justice Office on Violence Against Women has provided funding to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure, and investigative techniques. The project is being implemented by the Pueblo of Laguna.
Valdez’s guilty plea marks a significant milestone in the fight against violence against Native women. As our nation grapples with the complex issues surrounding violence against Native women, it is heartening to see perpetrators brought to justice. The case serves as a reminder that no one is above the law and that justice will be served.
Related Federal Cases
- Acoma Pueblo Man Gets 57 Months for Choking Intimate Partner · New Mexico
- Mescalero Apache Woman Gets 30 Months for Brutal Stabbing · New Mexico
- Jicarilla Apache Man Pleads Guilty to Brutal Partner Assault · New Mexico
- Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Strangling Partner · New Mexico
- Mescalero Man Sentenced for Arson Attack on Woman’s Home · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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