Steven Daniel Buitimea, Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Arizona 2026

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On May 28, 2022, Steven Daniel Buitimea, a 37-year-old enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, violently sexually assaulted a victim by force on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation in Tucson, Arizona, causing serious physical injury. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department. Buitimea’s motive for the assault is not specified, but the attack resulted in severe harm to the victim. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.

Buitimea pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker on May 5, 2026. The sentence included 210 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The severity of the sentence reflects the brutal nature of the assault and the long-term impact on the victim.

The Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation is a federally recognized tribe, and as such, the FBI has jurisdiction over major crimes committed on the reservation. The cooperation between the FBI and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department was crucial in investigating and prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution, ensuring that justice was served for the victim and the community.

The case highlights the importance of law enforcement cooperation and the commitment to prosecuting violent crimes, particularly those that occur on Native American reservations. The sentence serves as a warning to those who would commit such heinous crimes, and it provides a measure of closure for the victim and the community.

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