ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Lance Marion Cojo was sentenced on Oct. 11 to two years in prison. Cojo, 36, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, pleaded guilty on April 26 to one count of assault of an intimate or dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury and one count of assault of an intimate or dating partner by strangling.
On Dec. 31, 2021, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, in Otero County, New Mexico, Cojo assaulted a victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. Over the course of two days, the victim was severely beaten by Cojo. Cojo’s assault resulted in serious injuries to Jane Doe, who is also a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Jane Doe was taken to a medical center for her injuries where she was treated for a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, and bruising to both eyes, face, neck and ribs.
Upon his release from prison, Cojo will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos prosecuted the case.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence or who knows someone experiencing domestic violence can reach an advocate at the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
