Santo Domingo man pleads guilty in child sexual abuse case

A Santo Domingo man pleaded guilty in federal court to sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl on the Navajo Nation after meeting her online and lying about his age.

The U.S. attorney announced the plea deal Aug. 23.

According to court documents, 33-year-old Jordian Pacheco, an enrolled member of the Santo Domingo Pueblo, met the teen on the internet, and they began to communicate via phone, email and social media platforms.

On Jan. 9, 2021, Pacheco drove to the minor's residence, located within the Navajo Nation, when her mother was not home and engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with her, knowing she was only 14. Pacheco, who was 29 at the time, did not disclose his true age to the victim.

The next day, Navajo Police Department officers responded to a call from the victim’s mother about a man hiding in her daughter's closet. They found Pacheco, who initially provided false identification and denied any wrongdoing. He was detained and transported to Window Rock Adult Detention Center.

NPD officers located an unknown vehicle outside the victim's residence and towed it. When they ran the plates, it came back as belonging to Pacheco. Officers spoke to Pacheco again, who confirmed that he had given them false identification. He later confessed to engaging in sexual acts with the minor and lying to her about his age during an interview with the FBI.

At sentencing, Pacheco faces 63-78 months in prison. Upon his release from prison, Pacheco will be subject to at least five years and up to life of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.