Jicarilla Apache Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Christian Quintana, 20, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation who resides in Dulce, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a federal assault charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Quintana was arrested on March 2, 2015, on an indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  The crimes charged in the indictment took place on July 19, 2014, in Indian Country in Rio Arriba County, N.M.

During today’s hearing, Quintana pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and admitted that on July 19, 2014, during a physical confrontation with the victim, he pulled a knife out of his pocket and stabbed the victim twice.  Quintana further admitted that as a result of the stabbing, the victim sustained a punctured lung that required surgery to repair.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Quintana will be sentenced to a maximum of 24 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.  Quintana is in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Adams.