Nathan Thomas, Abusive Sexual Contact, New Mexico 2023

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A disturbing case of child abuse has come to light as Nathan Thomas, a 44-year-old man from Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on November 4 to abusive sexual contact with a minor in Indian Country.

A grand jury indicted Thomas on June 12, 2019 for his heinous crimes. According to the indictment and other court records, Thomas committed the offense at his family home in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation between August 1, 2007, and July 21, 2010. On more than one occasion over this period, Thomas knowingly engaged in and caused sexual contact with a child under the age of twelve.

The FBI’s Gallup office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.

Thomas will remain in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 18 years in prison.

The investigation and prosecution of this case is a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting children from abuse and ensuring that those who commit such heinous crimes are held accountable.

As a community, we must work together to prevent child abuse and support victims of such crimes. If you have any information about child abuse or know someone who is a victim, please contact the authorities immediately.

In this case, the defendant’s actions have caused irreparable harm to the victim and their family. We hope that this guilty plea brings some sense of closure and justice to those affected.

Nathan Thomas, 44, of Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on November 4 to abusive sexual contact with a minor in Indian Country.

The defendant, Nathan Thomas, will face the consequences of his actions, and we hope that his guilty plea serves as a warning to others who would commit similar crimes.

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