Pojoaque Pueblo Man Gets Twenty Years for Assault and Firearms Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Gerald James Viarrial, 54, of Pojoaque Pueblo and Santa Fe, N.M., was today sentenced to twenty years in federal prison following his conviction on assault and firearms charges. The sentence, announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, marks the culmination of a case that rocked Pojoaque Pueblo and involved serious allegations against Viarrial.

Viarrial was arrested in January 2015 after being charged with assaulting a female and two minors with a firearm, committing child abuse, and brandishing a weapon during a violent crime. The charges stem from events that took place between July 15, 2010, and August 15, 2010, and on March 24, 2014.

The investigation began in March 2014 when authorities received a report of child abuse from a social service provider. Viarrial’s tribal charges were filed soon after, leading to federal charges being brought against him as well. The case was prosecuted in federal court over tribal court charges.

In December 2015, a federal jury found Viarrial guilty on all four assault charges and the firearms charge after a trial. The mother of the children and one of the minor male victims testified against Viarrial, detailing harrowing accounts of abuse at his hands. During the trial, it was revealed that Viarrial had threatened to kill the two oldest children with a firearm.

After the incident at the shooting range in 2010, Viarrial’s victims were too scared to report him until the teenager reported continued abusive behavior. This led to further abuse and a subsequent strangulation assault by Viarrial against the teenager. The mother and children only found the courage to seek help after this incident.

This sentence sends a stark reminder of the gravity of violent crimes committed against minors, particularly in Native American communities where such incidents often go unnoticed or underreported.