Acoma Pueblo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Tribal Police Officer

ALBUQUERQUE – Adele Antonio, 35, a member and resident of Acoma Pueblo, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a year and a day in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for assaulting a tribal police officer.

Antonio was arrested Feb. 23, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging her with assaulting an officer of the Acoma Tribal Police Department resulting in serious bodily injury on Feb. 12, 2015.  The assault occurred on Acoma Pueblo in Cibola County, N.M., after the tribal officer responded to a call from Antonio’s residence.  The tribal police officer received serious injury to his neck as a result of extreme physical pain inflicted by being kicked by the Antonio. As a precautionary measure the tribal police officer was airlifted to the hospital in Albuquerque, N.M.  Antonio was subsequently indicted on the same charge on March 10, 2015.

On May 8, 2015, Antonio pled guilty to a felony information charging her with aggravated battery on a peace officer.  Antonio admitted that after the Acoma Tribal Police officer placed her under arrest, she kicked the tribal police officer in the neck while he was attempting to place Antonio’s partner under arrest, and that the assault occurred in Indian Country in Acoma Pueblo.

This case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Acoma Pueblo Tribal Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David Adams prosecuted the case.