LAGUNA PUEBLO MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING INTIMATE PARTNER BY STRANGLING OR SUFFOCATING AND DOMESTIC ASSAULT BY HABITUAL OFFENDER

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury has indicted a Laguna Pueblo man on charges of aggravated assault of an intimate partner by strangulation or suffocation and domestic assault by a habitual offender. 

Patrick Valencia, 49, of Laguna Pueblo, N.M., made his initial appearance on the two-count indictment in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., yesterday.  Valencia was arraigned on the federal charges this morning and entered a not guilty plea.  Also during this morning’s court proceedings, Valencia was ordered detained pending trial.

            According to the indictment and other court records, Valencia allegedly committed the crimes charged in the Pueblo of Laguna in Cibola County, N.M., on August 5, 2018.  On that day, Valencia allegedly assaulted his intimate partner by strangling and suffocating her.  At the time, Valencia previously had been convicted of domestic assaults in the Tribal Court for the Pueblo of Laguna Pueblo court on four prior occasions.  

            The U.S. Marshal’s Service arrested Valencia on July 17, 2019, at the Pueblo of Laguna Detention Facility where he was being held on related trial charges.

            If convicted, Valencia faces up to ten years of imprisonment on the assault of an intimate partner by strangulation or suffocation charge, and up to five years on the domestic assault by an habitual offender charge.  Charges in indictments are only allegations.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

            The BIA Office of Justice Services investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Murphy is prosecuting the case.