Santo Domingo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sex Abuse Offense
United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that, this morning, Emery Calabaza, 52, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Santo Domingo, entered a guilty plea to a one-count federal indictment charging him with engaging in a sexual act with a minor between the age of twelve and sixteen before United States Magistrate Judge Alan C. Torgerson. Calabaza, who has been residing in a half-way house on conditions of release since his arrest on August 13, 2010, was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Calabaza faces up to fifteen years imprisonment at sentencing and will be required to register as a sex offender. His sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
Calabaza entered his guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. In the plea agreement, Calabaza admitted that he engaged in a sexual act with a child between the age of twelve and sixteen. Specifically, Calabaza admitted that he used his finger or hand to penetrate the child's genital opening.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Brawley.
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