LAGUNA, N.M. – Laguna man Joshua
Laguna man Joshua Mendez was sentenced in a United States Federal Court on March 24 for an assault that occurred in the Pueblo. He was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. When released, Mendez will be subject to three years of supervised release.
In a plea agreement, Mendez admitted to assaulting a Jane and John Doe in Cibola County, on the Laguna Pueblo, on or about March 20.
Jane Doe was Mendez’ girlfriend at the time; all three parties to the assault were at her residence in Laguna. According to the plea agreement, Mendez pushed Jane Doe to stab John Doe repeatedly with a knife. John Doe survived the assault but was taken to a hospital for treatment due to the injuries.
Mendez’ assault resulted in serious bodily harm to John Doe and do mestic assault charges. The United States Department of Justice called Mendez a habitual offender because this was not Mendez’ first trouble with the law.
In 2017, Mendez was convicted of assaulting an intimate partner of his on February 6 and October 17, 2017.
Laguna Police Department assisted the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the course of this investigation. Assistant US Attorney Elisa C. Dimas prosecuted this case.