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 that Anthony Joe was charged with assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangling and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. Joe, 37, of Tohatchi, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared in federal court on Sept. 20 for a preliminary and detention hearing and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to a criminal complaint, on Aug. 13, Joe allegedly assaulted his dating partner. Joe and the victim had been in a four-year relationship and shared a six-month-old child. The victim was attempting to leave Joe’s residence to stay with her mother when Joe allegedly violently assaulted her. Joe allegedly punched the victim with a closed fist in the back of her head and in her side while she was holding their child. Joe allegedly kicked the victim in the back and pulled her away from the door by her hair. During the assault, Joe allegedly used his arm to choke the victim from behind, then knocked her down and used his hands to choke her.
The victim eventually escaped from the residence without her child. She ran to a nearby gas station and called law enforcement.
A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Joe faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
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