A Mescalero man has admitted guilt to charges of child abuse after an incident in which he fired a handgun near two young children and threatened self-harm in their presence.
Court documents state that on August 26, 2025, Emilio Morales, 24, who is not Native American, was intoxicated when he discharged a firearm several times close to two minor children. He then threatened to kill himself while holding the weapon in front of them. When police arrived with their weapons drawn, Morales held one of the children and told officers to shoot him. Both children involved are members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
Morales pleaded guilty to child abuse and now faces a sentence of six to twelve months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced the plea agreement. The Bureau of Indian Affairs led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson K. Dering V is prosecuting the case.
