Thoreau, N.M., Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Assault Charges

ALBUQUERQUE – Anthony J. Hamilton, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Thoreau, N.M., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assault charges.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, Hamilton will be sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

Hamilton was arrested on June 11, 2015, on a criminal complaint charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country.  Court documents indicate that on May 18, 2015, law enforcement officers were notified that Hamilton had allegedly assaulted two Navajo men and a Navajo woman in McKinley County, N.M.

During today’s proceedings, Hamilton pled guilty to a felony information charging him with two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  In entering the guilty plea, Hamilton admitted that on May 18, 2015, he repeatedly struck two victims on the face, head and body with his fists and elbows.  Hamilton further admitted that he caused an acute depressed fracture and a concussion to one victim and an acute bilateral fracture to the bones within the other victim’s orbital and sinus structures.

Hamilton remains detained pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety and the Gallup office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito.