Alamo, N.M., Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Prescott Apachito, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Alamo, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning to a federal assault charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Apachito was arrested on Feb. 11, 2013, based on a criminal complaint charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.  Apachito subsequently was indicted and charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.  According to the indictment, Apachito committed the offense on Nov. 29, 2012, in Socorro County, N.M., on the Navajo Indian Reservation.

During today’s proceedings, Apachito entered a guilty plea to Count 2, charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon.  Apachito admitted that in the early morning hours of Nov. 29, 2012, during an argument with several others, he pulled a utility knife out of his pocket and cut a female victim by slicing her neck.  He further admitted stabbing a male victim in the stomach when the victim attempted to restrain him.  In his plea agreement, Apachito admitted committing this criminal conduct on the Navajo Indian Reservation.  

Apachito has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.  At sentencing, Apachito faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Adams.