Navajo man pleads guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor

              ALBUQUERQUE,N.M. – Nathan Thomas, 44, of Pueblo Pintado, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque on Nov. 4 to abusive sexual contact with a minor in Indian Country.

              A grand jury indicted Thomas on June 12, 2019.  According to the indictment and other court records, Thomas committed the offense at his family home in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation between Aug. 1, 2007, and July 21, 2010.  On more than one occasion over this period, Thomas knowingly engaged in and caused sexual contact with a child under the age of twelve. 

              Thomas will remain in custody pending sentencing.  He faces up to 18 years in prison. 

              The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.