Laguna Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – This morning Laurence Kasero, 38, a member and resident of Laguna Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty to a federal assault charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Kasero was indicted on Sept. 25, 2012, and charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The indictment charged Kasero with assaulting a woman on March 20, 2011, in Indian Country within Bernalillo County.

During this morning’s proceedings, Kasero pled guilty to the indictment. In entering his guilty plea, Kasero admitted assaulting his wife, a member of Acoma Pueblo, at the Route 66 Casino parking lot on Laguna Pueblo on March 20, 2011. Kasero admitted that, after he caused the victim to fall to the ground, he stomped on her ankles causing her to sustain serious bodily injury.

Kasero has been in federal custody since his arrest on Sept. 28, 2012, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Kasero faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Southern Pueblos Agency, and the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Adams.