ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - David Joe Melendrez, 55, of Mescalero, New Mexico pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to abusive sexual contact with a child in Indian Country as part of a pattern of sexual abuse of children committed over the course of more than 20 years.
In Melendrez’s plea agreement, he admitted to abusive sexual contact with a child in December 2018 at a home within the boundaries of the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Melendrez, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, sexually abused the victim as she was sleeping during the night. He continued to abuse her after she woke up. Melendrez also abused the victim, who is also a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, on other previous occasions over the course of seven years. Melendrez also admitted sexually abusing four other child victims in New Mexico and Arizona dating back to 1995. Three of these other victims are also members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Melendrez is currently in custody awaiting sentencing. He faces up to life in prison.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
