Kewa Pueblo Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Voluntary Manslaughter Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Lena Quintana, 44, an enrolled member and resident of Kewa Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a voluntary manslaughter charge.

Quintana was arrested on Nov. 27, 2017, on an indictment charging her with second degree murder on Sept. 7, 2016, on the Kewa Pueblo in Sandoval County, N.M.  According to the indictment, Quintana killed the victim by hitting him with a vehicle.

During yesterday’s proceedings, Quintana pled guilty to a felony information charging her with voluntary manslaughter.  In entering the guilty plea, Quintana admitted that on Sept. 7, 2016, she killed the victim by driving her vehicle at a high rate of speed towards the victim and hitting him while he was walking on the side of the road.  Quintana acknowledged that the victim died as the result of her actions.

At sentencing, Quintana faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas is prosecuting the case.