Shiprock Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Minor

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been indicted on federal charges for sexually abusing a minor over a five-year period.

According to court documents, between December 2014 and December 2019, Brian Begay, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in or attempted to engage in sexual act with a minor.

Begay is charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual abuse and two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Begay faces up no less than 30 years and up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.