Two Grey Hills Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sex Abuse Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 04, 2013 |
ALBUQUERQUE—Erick McDonald, 21, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Two Grey Hills, New Mexico, entered a guilty plea this morning to abusive sexual contact charges under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During his plea hearing, McDonald pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with abusive sexual contact with a 6-year-old Indian child and a 12-year-old Indian child on September 19, 2012. In entering his guilty plea, McDonald admitted that he intentionally touched the genitals and other body parts of the two victims to gratify his sexual desire. Court records reflect that McDonald’s unlawful conduct occurred in a residence on the Navajo Indian Reservation.
McDonald has been in federal custody since his arrest on October 9, 2012, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, McDonald faces a maximum penalty of three years of imprisonment for abusing the 12-year-old victim and six years of imprisonment for abusing the 6-year-old victim. McDonald also will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque and the Farmington Offices of the FBI and the Shiprock Division of the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.