Mescalero man charged with assault

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Spencer George Klinekole made an initial appearance in federal court on Feb. 27 facing a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do serious bodily harm. Klinekole, 38, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for March 2.

According to a criminal complaint, on Nov. 2, 2022, Klinekole assaulted two victims in their home with a baseball bat. Klinekole was arrested by Bureau of Indian Affairs officers when he returned to the residence the assault had taken place. The assault occurred on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Klinekole faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney R. Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.

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