Northern Arapaho Tribe Woman Pleads Guilty in New Mexico to Federal Child Abuse Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Tarasina Wallowingbull, 27, pleaded guilty this morning to abusing a child in New Mexico’s Indian County.  Wallowingbull is a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, who currently resides in Albuquerque, N.M.

Wallowingbull was arrested on July 29, 2014, on a criminal complaint charging her with assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  According to the criminal complaint, on June 11, 2014, Wallowingbull crashed her vehicle in San Felipe Pueblo in Sandoval County, N.M., while driving under the influence of alcohol.  A young child, who was ejected from Wallowingbull’s vehicle at the time of the single-vehicle crash, sustained serious injuries.

Today Wallowingbull pled guilty to a felony information charging her with abuse of a child in Indian County.  In entering her guilty plea, Wallowingbull admitted causing a child under the age of 18 years to be placed in a situation that endangered the child’s life or health.

At sentencing, Wallowingbull faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison.  Her sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Southern Pueblos and Laguna Agencies of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson.