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Press Release

Taos man pleads guilty to kidnapping and assault in domestic violence case

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Richard Mascarenas pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 to one count each of kidnapping, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating. Mascarenas, 37, of Taos Pueblo, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Taos, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 19, 2023.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, from April 17, 2022, to May 4, 2022, Mascarenas assaulted Jane Doe and held her against her will at a residence in Taos Pueblo. In his plea, Mascarenas admitted that he would not allow Jane Doe to leave, contact her family or report the assaults because he did not want anyone to know how severely he had hurt her.

Mascarenas admitted that he pushed, pulled, threw, grabbed, and punched Jane Doe, causing serious bodily injury. Mascarenas also assaulted Jane Doe by strangling and suffocation. Medical imaging and records show that Jane Doe suffered blood clots and a stroke, as well as tears to her carotid artery.

The kidnapping and assaults took place on the Taos Pueblo in Indian Country.

By the terms of the plea agreement, Mascarenas faces nine years in prison.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

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Updated January 18, 2023

Topics
Violent Crime
Indian Country Law and Justice
Press Release Number: 23-9