Mescalero Woman Sentenced for Domestic Violence

ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to physically assaulting her partner and causing him substantial bodily injury.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to publicly available court documents, on September 24, 2023, Prestina Lisa Kazhe, 44, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, and John Doe got into an argument while watching a football game and drinking alcohol at their residence. During the argument, Kazhe struck John Doe multiple times on the head with a beer bottle, causing lacerations that required staples.

When John Doe tried to flee, Kazhe hit him 9-10 more times with a metal pot, leaving him bleeding profusely. As a result of the assault, John Doe required multiple staples to close his wounds.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Kazhe will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.

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