Steven Daniel Buitimea, 37, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on May 5 to 210 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual abuse. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker.
The case stems from an incident on May 28, 2022, when Buitimea, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, sexually assaulted a victim by force and caused serious physical injury. The assault took place on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation in Tucson.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department. Prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil matters throughout the state while coordinating with law enforcement agencies and supporting community initiatives to promote safety. With about 180 Assistant United States Attorneys and approximately 160 support staff members on staff, it functions as the main federal prosecutorial entity serving Arizona—including its border with Mexico and work with federally recognized tribes—according to the official website.
The office advances community wellness through outreach programs and victim advocacy efforts in partnership with federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies according to information from its official website.
