ALBUQUERQUE - This afternoon Aaron M. Coriz, 22, a member of Kewa Pueblo who resides in Taos, N.M., pled guilty to an indictment charging him with intentional child abuse under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During today’s plea hearing, Coriz admitted abusing an Indian child under the age of 12 years on April 21, 2010. In his plea agreement, Coriz admitted punishing the child victim by striking the child on the buttocks, back, hips, legs, with his hands, resulting in redness, raised skin, and bruising on those areas of the child’s body. Coriz committed this offense on Kewa Pueblo land.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Coriz faces up to six months of imprisonment to be followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the Court. Following his arrest on Nov. 27, 2012, Coriz was released to a half-way house under conditions of release. He remains on conditions of release pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Southern Pueblos Agency, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
