ALBUQUERQUE, NM – In a decision that brings justice to crimes from the 2000s and 2010s, Rodney Waikaniwa, a 51year-old man from the Pueblo of Zuni, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the sexual abuse of two young girls on the Zuni reservation in New Mexico. Waikaniwa, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, faced grave charges for his actions, which have had long-lasting impacts on his victims.
According to court documents, Waikaniwa sexually assaulted two minor victims, referred to in court as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. The assaults on Jane Doe 1 occurred between September 21, 2000, and September 20, 2001, when she was approximately eight years old. Jane Doe 2 was assaulted between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015, when she was approximately six years old. These heinous acts took place in shared residences within the Pueblo of Zuni, highlighting the vulnerability of the victims in their own homes.
The investigation, led by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Zuni Police Department, culminated in Waikaniwa's conviction. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice was served for the young victims.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced the sentencing, emphasized the severe penalties for such crimes in the federal system. Notably, there is no parole in the federal system, the case is seriousness of Waikaniwa's 15-year prison term.
Upon his release, Waikaniwa will be subject to a 15-year term of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender, a measure aimed at protecting the community from further harm.