ALBUQUERQUE - U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez and Special Agent in Charge Monte A. Cason of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Dallas Field Office, announced the arrest of Eric Trujillo, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., on federal sexual abuse charges.
Trujillo was arrested last night on an indictment charging him with sexually abusing four female inmates living at a half-way house in Bernalillo County, N.M., that provides lodging and other services for federal inmates under a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Trujillo made his initial appearance in federal court this morning and remains in custody pending an arraignment and a detention hearing which are scheduled for Nov. 9, 2015.
The seven-count indictment alleges that Trujillo sexually abused the four victims between June 2012 and March 2014. During that time, Trujillo was employed as a Resident Monitor by the half-way house.
Count 1 of the indictment alleges Trujillo forced a victim identified as Jane Doe 1 to engage in a sexual act in March 2014. Counts 2 through 4 allege that between Dec. 2013 and March 2014, Trujillo engaged in sexual acts with Jane Doe 1 by threatening her and placing her in fear. Count 5 alleges that in June 2012, Trujillo engaged in a sexual act with a victim identified as Jane Doe 2 at a time when she was physically incapable of declining to participate in the sexual act. Counts 6 and 7 charge Trujillo with engaging in sexual acts with two victims identified as Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4 at times when they were in official detention and under Trujillo’s authority. Trujillo allegedly victimized Jane Doe 3 between Aug. 2012 and Nov. 2012, and Jane Doe 4 in Nov. 2012.
If convicted on Counts 1 through 5, Trujillo faces a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment. If convicted on Counts 6 and 7, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Dallas Field Office of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
