Navajo man sentenced to 12 years in prison
Staff Reports
ALBUQUERQUE — A conviction for abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country has led to a 12-year prison sentence for Nathan Thomas, 45 of Pueblo Pintado, N.M.
Thomas pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2020. At that time he admitted that he knowingly engaged in and caused sexual contact with Jane Doe, who at the time of both incidents was under the age of 12. on Aug. 1, 2007, and July 21, 2010. Thomas committed the offenses at his family home in San Juan County, N.M., which is on the Navajo Nation.
Upon his release from prison, Thomas will be subject to three years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Nayback prosecuted the case.
Man takes his four children after fight; arrested on federal charges
The FBI has made a probable cause arrest of Rumaldo Peshlakai, 41, of Rock Springs, N. M., on a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on Sept. 24 in Gallup.
Peshlakai was apprehended after he allegedly took his four children following a domestic dispute with his wife Sept. 23, triggering the Navajo Nation to issue an Amber Alert.
His abandoned vehicle was located in the Tsayatoh, N.M. area and the children were found safe.
“When it comes to missing children, the FBI does not hesitate to use whatever resources are needed to make sure they are quickly returned unharmed to their loved ones,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque FBI Division, said. “We are pleased these four children have been found and are safe.
“This successful outcome was due to the great work of the Albuquerque and Phoenix [Ariz.] FBI field offices, the New Mexico State Police, Navajo Police Department, McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.”
Peshlakai is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque at a date yet to be scheduled.
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This table represents a seven-day period of Gallup Police Dept. incident calls September 22 - September 28 |
|
|
INCIDENT TYPE |
NUMBER OF CALLS |
|
INTOXICATED |
239 |
|
WELFARE CHECK |
202 |
|
POLICE REQUEST |
90 |
|
TRAFFIC-RELATED |
87 |
|
LAW |
53 |
|
ALARM |
46 |
|
DOMESTIC |
44 |
|
ROUTINE PATROL |
44 |
|
DISORDERLY SUBJECT |
39 |
|
ACCIDENT |
36 |
|
All other calls including. attempt to locate, burglary, battery, assault, party call disturbance, etc. |
204 |
