ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Tony Jake Jr., a 75year-old resident of Pine Hill, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, has entered a guilty plea to charges of abusive sexual contact involving a child under the age of 12. The announcement was made by Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.
Jake's guilty plea comes after a disturbing incident that took place on May 28, 2022, during a church service, according to court records. On that day, a child identified as Jane Doe reported to her mother that she had been sexually assaulted by a man she did not know. The FBI immediately responded to the report and initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, Special Agents interviewed individuals who had been present at the church service on that fateful day. One witness reported that they had noticed Jane Doe was not with the other children and, upon searching for her, found her in the company of Jake. The witness noted that Jane Doe appeared visibly upset at the time.
As part of his plea agreement, Jake admitted to approaching Jane Doe during the church service, touching her inappropriately, and causing distress to the young victim.
Jake will remain on conditions of release until his sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At the sentencing hearing, he could face a sentence ranging from a term of years up to life in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Bell will prosecute the case.