A Zuni man has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman he offered a ride home, according to a March 30 announcement by federal authorities.
The case highlights concerns about the safety of individuals accepting rides from acquaintances or strangers and the risks associated with such encounters.
Court documents state that on March 23, Barton Rico Cooeyate, age 41 and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, allegedly lured Jane Doe into his vehicle in Zuni, New Mexico. Instead of taking her home as promised, Cooeyate reportedly drove her to an abandoned rural residence about 15 miles away where he sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to escape from Cooeyate’s vehicle and hid until she encountered a Zuni Pueblo Tribal Ranger who had stopped Cooeyate for an unrelated DWI investigation. The woman suffered injuries including a contusion to her left forearm during the incident.
Cooeyate faces charges of kidnapping by inveiglement—a term referring to luring someone through false promises or deceitful means. He will remain at La Pasada Halfway House while awaiting trial. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office led the investigation with support from Zuni Fish and Wildlife and the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting this case.
Authorities remind that "a criminal complaint is merely an allegation" and that "all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
