Zuni Pueblo Man Charged with Assaulting Three-Year-Old Child

ALBUQUERQUE – Terrence Fred Cachini, 28, a member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  Cachini entered a not guilty plea to the charge in the criminal complaint and was released to a half-way house pending trial.

 The criminal complaint alleges that Cachini assaulted a three-year-old Indian child and caused the victim to suffer serious bodily injury on Feb. 24, 2015, at a residence in Zuni Pueblo within McKinley County, N.M.  According to the criminal complaint, the FBI initiated an investigation into Cachini on Feb. 25, 2015, after receiving a report from medical staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital where the victim was being treated for injuries, including soft tissue injuries to all planes of the victim’s body, allegedly caused by physical abuse.

If convicted of the charges in the criminal complaint, Cachini faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison.  Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque and Gallup offices of the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease is prosecuting the case.