Laguna Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Two Federal Assault Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Dennis George Cheresposy, 49, a member and resident of the Pueblo of Laguna, pleaded guilty this morning to two assault charges announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales, DuWayne W. Honahni, Sr., Special Agent in Charge of District IV of BIA’s Office of Justice Services, and Chief Michelle F. Ray of the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department.

Cheresposy was arrested on Jan. 18, 2013, on a two-count indictment charging him with (1) assault with a dangerous weapon and (2) assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  According to the indictment, Cheresposy used his fists and boots to assault another man on Oct. 20, 2011, causing the victim to suffer serious injuries.

During this morning’s proceedings, Cheresposy pled guilty to Count 2 of the indictment, charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and a felony information charging him with assaulting a man with his hands and feet on May 3, 2012.

In entering his guilty plea to Count 2 of the indictment, Cheresposy admitted that on Oct. 20, 2011, he kicked and punched a Laguna Pueblo man, who suffered multiple rib fractures as a result of the assault.  Cheresposy also admitted that the assault occurred on a ranch run by the Pueblo of Laguna Cattle Association which is located in the Pueblo of Laguna.

In pleading guilty to the felony information, Cheresposy admitted that on May 3, 2012, he kicked and punched another Laguna Pueblo man who suffered a fractured eye orbit and bulging disc as a result of the assault.  Cheresposy further admitted that this second assault occurred in a location within the Pueblo of Laguna.

Cheresposy has been in federal custody since his arrest in Jan. 2013 and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Cheresposy will be sentenced to 30 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. 

These cases were investigated by the Laguna Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez.