Zuni Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Statutory Rape Charge

ALBUQUERQUE – Kirk Simplicio, 23, a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a sexual abuse of a minor charge.  U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Chief Timothy Trimble of the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department announced the guilty plea.

Simplicio was arrested on March 17, 2015, on an indictment charging him with sexually abusing a minor who was between 12 and 16 years of age.  According to the indictment, Simplicio committed the crime on Jan. 1, 2014, on Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County, N.M. 

During today’s proceedings, Simplicio pled guilty to the indictment and admitted engaging in a sexual act with the victim who was 14 years old and at least four years younger than Simplicio. 

At sentencing, Simplicio faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.  He also will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.  Simplicio was remanded into custody and will remain detained pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.