ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico announced today that Matthew Vicenti was arraigned on a three-count indictment charging him with assault by a habitual offender, kidnapping, and assault of an intimate partner by strangling. Vicenti, 32, of Dulce, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
A federal grand jury indicted Vicenti on June 15. According to the indictment, from Dec. 26, 2021, to Dec. 28, 2021, Vicenti allegedly confined and assaulted his intimate partner, identified as Jane Doe. At the time, Vicenti had been convicted previously on at least two occasions in Tribal court of offenses against a spouse and intimate partner. On Dec. 28, 2021, Vicenti allegedly assaulted Jane Doe by strangling and suffocation.
An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Vicenti faces up to 10 years in prison for assault by a habitual offender and assault of an intimate partner by strangling. Vicenti faces up to life in prison for kidnapping.
The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.
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