Assault by Strangulation Charges Land Robert T. Maestas in Hot Water
In a disturbing case of domestic violence, Robert T. Maestas, a 25-year-old man from Pagueate, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation. The crime took place on February 10, 2017, within the Laguna Pueblo in Cibola County, New Mexico. According to the indictment, Maestas was previously convicted in the Laguna Tribal Court of domestic violence in December 2011 and January 2012.
Maestas was arrested on March 17, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with domestic assault by a habitual offender and assault of an intimate partner by strangulation. During the assault, Maestas allegedly held the victim’s neck against a car door with his forearm, prohibiting her from breathing, and struck her on the chest and shoulder.
In entering the guilty plea, Maestas admitted to brandishing a shotgun at the victim and assaulting her by grabbing her throat with his hand and applying pressure to cause pain. He also admitted to striking her rib and chest area and using his forearm to apply pressure to her neck, prohibiting her from breathing.
The victim suffered physical pain as well as bruising and marks to her forearms, neck, chest, and shoulder as a result of the assault. Maestas faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison at sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA Office of Justice Services and the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy B. Solimon is prosecuting the case pursuant to the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico.
The 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.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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