Mescalero Apache Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Kathryn Cojo, 33, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Nation who resides in Mescalero, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an assault charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Cojo was arrested in March 2017, on a two-count indictment charging her with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  According to the indictment, Cojo committed the crimes on Nov. 15, 2015, on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in Rio Arriba County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Cojo pled guilty to Count 1 of the indictment charging her with assault with a dangerous weapon.  In entering the guilty plea, Cojo admitted assaulting a man by striking him with a sharp object in the neck, back and abdomen, and that the victim required stitches and medical attention as the result of the assault.  Cojo admitted committing the assault on Nov. 15, 2015, on the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation.

At sentencing, Cojo faces a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  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 Nicholas J. Marshall.