Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Aggravated Child Sexual Abuse Offense

ALBUQUERQUE—On June 16, 2011 in federal court in Albuquerque, Michael Crosby, 54, entered a guilty plea to aggravated sexual abuse of a child who had not attained the age of 16 years under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Crosby will be sentenced to 12 to 14 years of imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release. Crosby also will be required to register as a sex offender after completing his prison sentence. Crosby, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Shiprock, New Mexico, was remanded into custody of the United States Marshals Service after entering his guilty plea. He will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Crosby pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with sexually violating a child under the age of 16 years between September 18, 2008 and September 18, 2009 on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Crosby initially was charged by complaint on February 9, 2011, and was indicted on March 9, 2011 in a three-count indictment charging him with committing the following offenses on the Navajo Indian Reservation: (1) sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 years in November 2007; (2) aggravated sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16 years by intentionally touching the child’s genitals between September 18, 2008 and September 2009; and (3) raping a child under the age of 16 years between September 18, 2008 and September 2009. Yesterday, Crosby pleaded guilty to an information alleging the offense charged in count two of the indictment.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating this case in February 7, 2011 when it received a report that a child had been sexually abused by Crosby from November 2007, when she was 11 years old, to January 2011, when she was 14 years old. The child reported that the abuse occurred while she lived in Crosby’s home, first in Huerfano, New Mexico and later in Shiprock, both located on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The child also reported that Crosby threatened to “do something to her” if she told anyone about his unlawful conduct.

In entering his guilty plea, Crosby admitted sexually molesting the child by touching her genitals at their home. Under the terms of Crosby’s plea agreement, the indictment will be dismissed after Crosby is sentenced.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rozzoni.