Ohkay Owingeh Man Admits to Drugging, Assaulting Teen

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Peter Calvert-Cata, 21, a resident of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, New Mexico, admitted in federal court today to a heinous act of sexual assault against a vulnerable teen. The plea brings a measure of accountability for a crime that exploited intoxication and trust, but does little to erase the trauma inflicted.

Calvert-Cata pled guilty to sexual assault, a felony charge stemming from an incident on August 13, 2016, in Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. Court documents reveal the victim, a 17-year-old female and member of the Pueblo, was heavily intoxicated with alcohol and marijuana at the time of the assault. Calvert-Cata was initially arrested on November 18, 2016, following a criminal complaint detailing the aggravated sexual abuse. An indictment followed on December 7, 2016, charging him with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse, later reduced to the single count he admitted guilt to today.

The details are sickening. According to the plea agreement, Calvert-Cata not only attempted to engage in a sexual act with the victim while she was in a compromised state, but also provided the marijuana she consumed. This wasn’t a crime of opportunity; it was a calculated act of predation, leveraging the victim’s impaired condition for his own twisted desires. The fact that she was “fading in and out of consciousness” speaks volumes about the level of vulnerability exploited.

Under the terms of the plea deal, Calvert-Cata faces four years of imprisonment, followed by a period of supervised release yet to be determined by the court. Crucially, he will also be required to register as a sex offender, a necessary step to protect the community from future harm. However, four years feels insufficient for the level of betrayal and lasting damage caused by his actions.

The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the Santa Fe office of the FBI, the Northern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, the Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Police Department, and the New Mexico State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy H. Solimon, as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in New Mexico.

This Pilot Project, funded by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence against Women and administered by the Pueblo of Laguna, aims to bolster the prosecution of violent crimes against Native American women. It’s a welcome initiative, born from years of tribal consultations, but it’s a grim reminder that these communities are disproportionately affected by such horrific acts. Calvert-Cata remains in custody awaiting a sentencing hearing, a date for which has not yet been set. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case.