Mescalero Apache Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Federal Assault Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Christopher Bigmouth, 25, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Nation who resides in Mescalero, N.M., was sentenced this morning in Las Cruces, N.M., to 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction on an assault charge. 

Bigmouth was arrested on Feb. 20, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a 14-month-old child on Aug. 22, 2014, by dropping the victim on her head three times.  It alleged that the assault occurred on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in Otero County, N.M.  The victim was seriously injured and required emergency brain surgery to reduce swelling of the brain. 

On Aug. 25, 2015, Bigmouth pled guilty to a felony information charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  In entering the plea, Bigmouth admitted that on Aug. 22, 2014, he intentionally dropped the victim on the floor three times, and that his actions resulted in several injuries to the victim including significant brain swelling requiring emergency surgery and long term cognitive, motor and visual impairment.  

This case was investigated by Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Mescalero Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.