A resident of Zuni, New Mexico, has been indicted on federal charges for sexually abusing two individuals over a period of two years. According to court documents, Kyle Whiteeagle, 42, who is an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin, allegedly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual acts with two different victims between May 2017 and October 2019.
Whiteeagle faces four counts of aggravated sexual abuse. He will remain in custody while awaiting trial. The date for the trial has not yet been set. If convicted, Whiteeagle could receive a sentence ranging from a minimum of 30 years to life in prison.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. This initiative was launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at Justice.gov/PSC.
"An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
