Sex Crimes: Navajo Man Sentenced to 144-216 Months for Child Abuse

A 43-year-old Navajo man from Churchrock, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to a federal child sexual abuse charge. Patrick Begay faces a recommended sentence of 144 to 216 months in federal prison, followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

The abuse occurred between November 2013 and December 2015, and Begay also admitted to engaging in sexual contact with the victim on January 6, 2016. The victim was nine years old at the time.

Begay was arrested in November 2016 on a four-count indictment, charging him with sexually abusing a child under the age of 12. The offenses took place on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, New Mexico.

According to the indictment, Begay committed the offenses between November 2013 and December 2015, and also on January 6, 2016. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

The case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Begay will be required to register as a sex offender as part of his sentence. The exact date of the sentencing hearing has not been announced. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting our children from abuse and exploitation, and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to hold perpetrators accountable.

As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals who exploit and abuse children. This case is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies to protect our communities and bring justice to victims of child abuse.

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