PASCUA YAQUI MAN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE WITH THE USE OF FORCE

            TUCSON, Ariz. - On May 29, 2012, Leandro Jesus Flores, 22, of Tucson, but living on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Frank R. Zapata. Following his term of imprisonment, Flores will be on supervised release for five years and must register as a sex offender. Flores pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse with the use of force on June 22, 2011.

            The sentence stems from an incident that occurred on Oct. 31, 2009, when Flores became enraged with the victim over an argument. Flores began to suffocate the victim to gain control, then forcibly sexually abused the victim. Before the victim was able to break free and call 911, Flores punched her repeatedly in the face and head with his fists.

            The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raquel Arellano, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:                  CR-10-0848-TUC-FRZ
RELEASE NUMBER:           2012-132(Flores)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az