Man from Mescalero, New Mexico sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for assaulting federal officers

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shawn J. Forte, 28, of Mescalero, New Mexico was sentenced in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico on June 4 to 10 months in prison for assaulting federal officers in the performance of their official duties.

            Forte previously pleaded guilty to this charge on Nov. 4, 2019. He admitted committing this offense on May 17, 2019.  According to his plea agreement and other public court documents, Forte was jumping in front of cars on a highway within the Mescalero Apache Reservation.  Police officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs responded to the scene and tried to arrest Forte.  Forte refused to put his hands behind his back.  Forte resisted the officers for several minutes as they used tasers and pepper spray to stop him.  During the struggle, Forte punched two officers in the head and kicked one of them in the head causing cuts, bruising and abrasions.  Forte continued to resist while being transported to the hospital for medical treatment.     

            The Las Cruces office of the FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tilli McCarthy Villalobos prosecuted the case.