Navajo man pleads guilty in federal court to abusive sexual contact in Indian Country

           ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lyle Woody Begay, 34, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque to abusive sexual contact in Indian Country.

           According to the plea agreement, Begay sexually abused the child on or about Feb. 23, 2004, through Dec. 31, 2011, in San Juan County, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. Begay, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted in a plea agreement to causing intentional and unlawful sexual contact with a minor under the age of twelve with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, arouse or gratify sexual desire.

           Begay is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces 10 to 15 years in prison under the terms of his plea agreement. Begay also must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

           The Gallup office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Novaline D. Wilson and Kyle T. Nayback are prosecuting the case.